-There is not much good news in the latest CNN Poll released yesterday. Romney's twenty point lead in Florida has narrowed to a two point lead. For Gingrich, the momentum and balance from South Carolina have appeared to level off. The poll had Romney at 36% and Newt at 34%. This could be a long election night.
-Florida Latino vote appears to have fallen in love with Romney. A Univision and ABC News Poll shows that Mitt has a 26 point lead over Gingrich among Republican Latino voters in Florida. Senator Marco Rubio (photograph above) attacked Gingrich this week over an ad.
-A new Quinnipiac Poll shows Romney and President Obama running 'dead even' in the Sunshine State. On the other hand Newt Gingrich loses to the President by 11%! For those Republicans looking for a 'winner' that sure helps Romney.
-After his State of the Union message, President Obama launched a five state tour to talk about the economy. The five states might give you a hint where the Obama team is focusing for the election: Iowa, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada and Michigan!
-Appears that Newt hasn't met a country yet that he doesn't want to bomb. Now in the Florida primary he is suggesting we might have to bomb Cuba. Really, Newt?
-Moderate Republican former Congressman Chris Shays says he will challenge wrestling executive Linda McMahon for the Republican nomination for Senate in Connecticut. They will be seeking to take the open seat of Senator Joseph Lieberman,
-Openly gay Republican candidate for President, Fred Karger, says he will release twelve years of tax returns.
-The Democratic National Committee continues to put out spectacular and fun ads against the Republicans. Here is one about Romney's Swiss Bank Account.
-Think Progress has written six interesting facts about Mitt's tax returns.
-Michele Bachmann is seeking a fourth term to return to Congress, although her favoribility ratings in Minnesota have crashed. Only 37% of the voters think she should run for re-election. Dare we hope that she can be defeated?
-Speaking of Minnesota, Newt is leading big time in what has been a traditionally moderate Republican state. He has 36% to Romney's 18%. If just the two of them were running and Santorum was out of the race, Newt would defeat Romney in a head on race by 50% to 29%!
"About half (49%) of Americans agree with President Barack Obama's claim that the U.S. economic system is unfair, while 45% say it is fair. At the same time, 62% say the U.S. economic system is fair to them personally."
-After turning in over a million signatures to recall Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin, the organizers face an uphill battle. The Governor beats his nearest possible Democratic opponent, Milwaukee Mayor Barrett (photograph) by 50% to 44%.
-Mitt Romney evidently has millions stashed away in banks in the Cayman Islands. Now my image of the banking there is a place that is used to launder money, avoid paying US taxes or hide money from other family members. Why in the world would good ole clean-living Mitt feel compelled to put money in the Cayman Islands? No wonder he doesn't want to release his tax returns!
-Did Santorum really win the Iowa Caucuses? Reports coming in from Iowa say that counting the results again show Santorum winning by 34 votes. This is not Mitt's week.
-The famous "Mitt Momentum" isn't all that it is cracked up to be in the Press. The latest "New York Times/CBS Poll" has Mitt just seven points ahead of Gingrich. Romney has 28% and Gingrich has 21%. Folks, that is not a huge lead nationally for someone who just won two states.
-The same poll said that an amazing 75% of American Republicans claim it is still too early to make a full commitment to any candidate. Remember, Mitt has been campaigning for six years for this nomination.
-Openly Gay congressional candidate Mark Takano running Congress in Southern California was just picked by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Fund as one of 18 priority candidates to take over Republican helded seats. This is a victory for Takano and means enormous held from the National Democratic Party.
-Don't pack too many clothes for the National Democratic Convention in Charlotte, North Caroline. The Democratic National Committee has announced that it will be only three days this year! It will end with Obama once again giving his acceptance speech in a huge stadium! This time it will be the 74,000 seat Charlotte Panthers football edifice! (Photograph from Denver Speech)
-There is talk of a possible Newt momentum in South Carolina. Romney's lead has been cut in half in the latest CNN Poll. Romney is now at 33% and Gingrich is at 23%. Despite all the noise from the great evangelical/ Pentecostal coalition endorsing Santorum he is not showing much movement is at 16%. Newt is emerging as the anti-Romney.
-President Jimmy Carter (photograph) said that Newt is using 'subtle racism' in his campaign in South Carolina. This is what the former President had to say:
Former President Jimmy Carter says Newt Gingrich knows exactly what he is doing when he uses phrases like "food stamp president" and talks about the poor learning a work ethic. Carter says this rhetoric is "appealing to the wrong element in South Carolina."
"Newt Gingrich is probably as enlightened as I am about being gratified that we're in the desegregation years in the South," Carter said to CNN's Piers Morgan.
"When you emphasize, over and over, welfare, food stamps, and ‘Why don't the black people get jobs," and if I'm president, I'll make sure they turn toward a work ethic, rather than an ethic of welfare and food stamps, that’s appealing to the wrong element in South Carolina," the former President said on CNN
-Towleroad.com said in yesterday's blog that over 70 Mayors from across America will soon announce their support for marriage equality. The coalition will be CoChaired by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders.
-Just when you thought it was safe to go into the water, Sarah Palin shows up again! She said if she lived in South Carolina she would be voting for Newt. Obviously pleased with the 'kinda endorsement' Newt said she would play a key role in his Presidency. Another reason to love President Obama all the more!
-One of the LGBT community's great friends, New York Democrat Maurice Hinchey, has announced he will not seek re-election after twenty years in Congress! Thank you, sir for your support over the years.
-At the last Fox News debate, the network worked with Twitter to see if people felt the different candidates were giving 'straight answers' or ducking. Romney did terribly. You clearly would want Mitt on your Dodge Ball team! You have to look at this one.
-Progressive favorite Elizabeth Warren raised an astounding $5.7 million for her campaign to unseat Republican incumbent United States Senator Scott Brown. She has $6 million on hand but Brown is still ahead in fundraising with over $12 million but only raised $3.1 the last quarter. She is catching up fast!
-Santorum is always good for an outrageous quote. "The Week" gives us nine real choice quotes from the Religious Right's favorite candidate. Here is one to whet your appetite:
"The idea that the Crusades and the fight of Christendom against Islam is somehow an aggression on our part is absolutely anti-historical. And that is what the perception is by the American Left who hates Christendom. ... What I'm talking about is onward American soldiers. What we're talking about are core American values."
-Washington State's largest county - King's County - saw their governing council vote 8 to 1 in support of passing a marriage equality bill in the special session of the State Legislature.
-This week in a special election for a seat in the Minnesota House the voters elected the first native American lesbian ever elected in the United States. Bravo to Susan Allen! We are proud of you and this amazing accomplishment. She was endorsed by the Victory Fund.
-Gingrich and his independent expenditure committee are going to run about $3 million in ads in South Carolina the next ten days. Here is one of them:
-The Fox Exit Poll has a significant amount of interesting information. Most surprisingly is how moderate the New Hampshire Republicans are compared to their Southern counterparts. Here are three interesting facts from the poll:
-On the issues of abortion and gay marriage 62% of the Republicans consider themselves 'moderate' on the issue.
-Evangelicals only made up 22% of the vote in New Hampshire.
-Of those that voted yesterday, 63% said they would be dissatisfied if Newt won the election and only 37% said they would be upset if Mitt won it.
-The latest Quinnipiac University Poll shows that both Santorum and Romney would both run a tight race against President Obama in Florida. The President wins the Sunshine State's women by 5% but loses men by 12% .
-Public Policy Polling says that in North Carolina that Santorum actually runs slightly better than Romney against the President. Interestingly Libertarian Gary Johnson takes as high as 9% in the Tarheel State.
-Towleroad.com is reporting that openly gay Utah State Democratic Chair Jim Dabakis (photograph) is in the running to be the new CEO of the Human Rights Campaign. Here is the bio that the Democratic Party uses for Debakis:
The grandson of Greek immigrants, Jim Dabakis moved to Utah when he was 17 to attend school at Brigham Young University. After college, Jim worked for 13 years as a Radio and TV talk-show host. He became known as the “Voice of Utah Democrats” as he defended the Party’s values against the continual onslaught of the Ronald Reagan-era Republicans.
Jim also began his own company in the art dealership world, and has worked primarily with Russia for the past 20 years. During that time he also founded the Jim Dabakis Educational Foundation which has helped bright students from all over the world continue their education in the United States. He is also one of the original founders of both Equality Utah and The Utah Pride Center.
-An already bizarre election just got more odd. The extreme right wing former candidate for Senator from Delaware, neo-witch Christine O'Donnell, just endorsed Romney for President. She said he has stayed consistent since he changed his mind. Yep, you read that right. Even more bizarre is that the Romney campaign actually put a press release out about the endorsement!
-Herman Cain told Barbara Walters that he wants to be Secretary of Defense in a new Republican presidency! This from a man who struggle where Libya is located!
-Count Virginia on the Gingrich train as of now. He leads Romney by an astounding 26 points according to the dependable Public Policy Polling. The South is becoming Newt country with him up 37 points over Romney in North Carolina and taking Florida by 30 points. Newt must be walking around whistling "Dixie."
-On the other hand the same polling shows that Obama is in good shape in Virginia. He leads Romney by 6 points and Gingrich by 7 points. That is about the same margin he took the state in 2008. Is Virginia starting to become a Blue State in Presidential elections?
-Those who dislike Governor Rick Perry's "Strong" ad is now at 682,000 to 22,000 who like it. That is a all time record for YouTube.com. Wonder if it will ever hit a million?
-Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov (photograph) has announced a run for the Presidency of Russia. He is a long time ally of Vladimir Putin and those in the know are suspicious of his candidacy. In addition, the billionaire is a huge 'party boy' and loves to have a good time.
-Right up there with Christine O'Donnell's endorsement of Romney has to be the endorsement of Gary Busey of Newt at the beginning of the week and then withdrawing it by the middle of the week. Did something happen in those two days with your candidate, Gary, that we missed??
-The loons on the lake are restless tonight. Glenn Beck says if Newt is the nominee he might support Ron Paul if he runs as a third party.
-The former Republican governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson, is expected to leave the Republican Party tomorrow and become a member of the Libertarian Party. Are we looking at a Paul/ Johnson ticket in the Fall?
-Quinnipiac Poll shows the Newt bandwagon hitting north of the Mason-Dixie line. In Pennsylvania, Newt has a 24 point lead over Romney and in Ohio he leads by a whopping 28%.
-Here is the best political tweet of the week sent by @lizzwinsted. "If Donald Trump was the suspect in a crime, he still wouldn't be a person of interest."
-Voters in Pennsylvania are not thrilled that Penn State coach Joe Paterno was fired. By a slim 52% to 43% margin the voters in the Keystone State supported the firing.
-Public Policy Polling has Newt doing well in the West. In New Mexico Newt leads Romney by 25 points. New Mexico voters hometown boy, Gary Johnson, is third with 11%.
-Congressman Chris Murphy (D-NC) was extremely articulate on the floor the House of Representatives as he spoke of Lowe's Home Improvement removing all its ads from "All American Muslim."
-Interesting times in the race for California District 50 Assembly seat. The California Federation of Teachers (and for that matter an enormous number of other endorsers) endorsed LGBT legend Torie Osborn for the seat. Running in the primary against her is Assemblywoman Betsy Butler who switched from another district when redistricting was completed to take on Osborn. Ironically, one of the few organizations that has not endorsed Osborn is the LGBT one. Equality California PAC endorsed her opponent. They didn't even interview Torie! No wonder the organization has been having problems. What are they thinking? Shame. You can contribute to Osborn by clicking here!
-Sad news. Jack the Cat that went missing at Kennedy International Airport for months and was found has passed away. His time at the airport was just too tough.
-Longtime friend of the LGBT community Gerald W. McEntee, president of the labor giant AFSCME, has announced his retirement. He has always been there for LGBT Americans and we wish him a fulfilled retirement.
-The cast for the film version of "Les Miserables" just keeps getting better and better. Already Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Russell Crowe have joined the team. The most recent addition is young, talented and handsome Eddie Redmayne (photograph below) who will play the pivotal role of Marius.
-Karen Ocamb of LGBTPOV has written a wonderful article on why it is important to remember gay and AIDS activist Bob Hattoy.
-Congratulations to Matt Rettenmund and BoyCulture.com on their sixth year anniversary. Matt is a sensational guy who puts amazing energy into his blog and is one of the nicest guys around. Wishing you six more, Matt!
-Equality Maine is working hard to get the signatures to place on the ballot a measure that would make marriage equality legal in the state. The latest Public Policy poll shows that 51% of the voters approve of the effort and 42% oppose the measure. A real shift has taken place among independent voters who now support marriage equality by 53% to 39%!
-Usually after being in office for a while voters start to become disenchanted with you. That certainly is not the case of Governor Andrew Cuomo who has an approval rating from New Yorkers of an astounding 70%! That is not easy to achieve in these crazy times.
-Sacha Baron Cohen has created another new character called Lord Christopher Monckton and he is as irreverent as ever! Take a look!
-The Conservative Party in Scotland has elected an open lesbian as their new leader. Taking charge is Ruth Davidson who is viewed as a devoted ally of Prime Minister David Cameron.
-Polls are showing that 61% of Americans approve of the way President Obama has handled the situation in Iraq. Another 66% approves of his policies on terrorism. Now if we can only create some jobs!
-There was a solar flare that was a strong X-2 on November 3. Take a look at the picture of this amazing phenomenon.
-Director Rob Reiner is planning on making a movie based on the Proposition 8 Court Case. All right, who will play Boies and Olson?
- A poll taken this week in Iowa during the Cain problems with his history of sexual harassment shows him still running strong and Gingrich coming on strong. Cain has 22%, Gingrich has 18% and Mitt Romney is third with 15%! Let's see what happens since another woman, the fourth, has come forward.
-Moment of LGBT Pride with the San Francisco Gay Marching Bandbeing picked to be lead band in that city's Veterans Day parade.
-Stockton California Assembywoman Cathleen Galgiani has come out of the closet. The lesbian legislator was first elected to her district in 2006. We wish her well in her re-election. (via Towelroad.com)
-One of the worst hate crimes this year is the story of Texan Burke Burnett. The young man was at a Halloween party in Reno, Texas. Three male partygoers beat, stabbed and set him on fire. MSNBC's Thomas Roberts has the first exclusive interview with this 26 year old young man who survived the attack. As hard as it is to watch, you must view Roberts' excellent interview with Burnett.
-Alan van Capelle and Matt Morningstar had their first child. On October 26, Ethan George van Capelle Morningstar joined the world. Everyone is doing fine.
-In the can't believe they said that department, Lonely Planet, the travel guide owned by BBC Worldwide, has picked - get this - Uganda as a top travel pick. God, I can't wait to take a bunch of LGBT friends and vacation in a country where homophobia is rampant! What are they thinking?
-Former National Football Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and his wife, Chandler, have made a $5 million dollar donation to Georgetown University. What is interesting about this gift is that, according to the Washington Blade, $1 million goes to the creation of a program for LGBT studies. Wow.
-This is the 20th anniversary of "The Perfect Storm"that slammed the East Coast with huge waves, high winds and tons of damage. A front combined with Hurricane Grace and then sat off land for several days. The video is the USS Kitty Hawk in the storm facing 90' waves!
-A Florida Panther was hit by a car and killed this week. The Panther used to roam all over the entire Southern United States. Currently there are only about 150 adult Florida Panthers left.
-Despite current sexual harrassment accusations, the Pizza King Cain continues to be on top. The Quinnipiac Poll has him beating Romney in Ohio! The poll shows Cain at 28% and Romney trailing at 23%. A distant third is Newt with just 7%.
-The Democratic House Majority Pac has released a list of twelve Republican districts that they feel can be transferred to the Dems in the next election. Many of the Republicans were hurt by redistricting.
-Don't think Elizabeth Warren running to be the Democratic nominee for Senate in Massachusetts will have any problem finding volunteers! This photograph from Mother Jones shows a volunteer meeting for Warren taking place in Framingham, Massachusetts! Unbelievable!
-Karen Ocamb of LGBTPOV writes a powerful article on why the Occupy Movement should be important to the LGBT community.
-In the latest extensive Economist Poll, people across the nation were asked to rank the issues most important to them. The top five were the economy (44%), social security (15%), healthcare (9%), budget deficit (8%) and education (7%). Republicans please take note in that gay rights got a whooping 2% in the poll!
-The Des Moines Register poll got a lot of attention because of the tight race between Cain and Romney. However most interestingly former Senator Rick Santorum who has particularly lived in Iowa by visiting 70 of Iowa's 99 counties received only 5% of the vote.
-OUT Magazine has started unveiling their "OUT 100" by releasing the first ten names. They posed the individuals selected as figures from the past or art. Dustin Lance Black sure looks hot in the pictures. (If you want to see what I look like as Sir Winston Churchill, you can find me among the ten).
-President Teddy Roosevelt was a huge trust buster and fought the big monopolies. Upon returning to his beloved Harvard to speak at his 30th class reunion as President, many of those in the audience stood and turned their back to him for betraying industry! Guess ole "Rough and Ready" might have been staying down at Occupy Wall Street.
-Now this has to hurt! In the new University of Texas/Tribune poll on the Republican candidates, Herman Cain got 27% and Texas's own Governor Rick Perry received 26%! Romney was fourth at 9%.
-Wisconsin is going to be a tough state for President Obama. He won significantly in 2008 and now in the latest poll leads Romney by only 3%. At the beginning of 2011 he had a 12% lead over Romney. Have to move Wisconsin now into the toss-up column.
-Finally here is a feature piece from "Good Morning America" about mothers2mothers in Africa. As you know it is one of my favorite organizations and this ABC News clip explains why:
-You have to love the above picture of Mitt Romney and his team taken in the 1980's. They all are holding cash and looking into the camera celebrating another victory for their company Bain Capital. The company often would take over other companies and lay off thousands of workers. The picture is just perfect.
-The new Quinnipiac Univesity Poll shows that by a 87% to 10% support the Occupy Wall Street protesters and 67% agree with their issues!
-3,000 people waited in line all night in Los Angeles at a one time chance for free medical care at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. Organized by CareNow they treated 5,000 people in an effort to help in these difficult times.
-The Rainbow Snake and Fairy Shrimp have officially gone extinct in the state of Florida. Seems like each day we see more and more of our life forms just disappear forever.
-Time Magazine Poll shows Romney and President Obama in a neck and neck race. What is very interesting in the poll is how women are strongly supporting Obama. The magazine says:
In each case, the President was buoyed by his performance among female voters. Women prefer Obama over Romney by 8 percentage points (49% to 41%), over Perry by 17 points (53% to 36%) and over Cain by 21 points (53% to 32%).
-Anything Goes star Colin Donnell (below) will star in City Center Encores of Stephen Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along." Donnell has been on a real hot streak.
-Aussie Star Hugh Jackson admitted on The Rachael Ray Show that one time on stage during "Beauty and the Beast" he had to go so bad on stage that he simply peed in his pants.
-For National Coming Day last week, President of Jujamcyn Theaters, Jordan Roth, wrote a powerful piece in The Huffington Post.. It is worth the read.
-Brava to out lesbian Janice Langbehn! According to Towleroad.com she won the nation's second highest civilian honor. President Obama awarded her the Presidential Citizens Medal.
-Another very loud BRAVA to open lesbian Alison Nathan who was confirmed as a Federal Judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
-Want to know what the protesters are so angry about? "Business Insider" has charts and yes, more charts about the economic injustice in this country. Read these charts and you will be moving downtown to help these folks out!
-The newly elected openly Gay Chairman of the British National Labour Party Michael Cashman (photograph below) was seen breaking bread with Actress Judith Light in The Glass House Tavern. Cashman, who is an MP in the Euporean Parliament, has been a huge champion of international LGBT rights. He is the first openly member of the LGBT community to head the Labour Party. Also seen breaking bread at the eatery was Hugh Dancy and Claire Danes.
-In the latest Public Policy Poll, pizza king Herman Cain is leading for the Republican nomination. He is ahead of Romney by 8%! Guess who is third place with 15%? Newt Gingrich!
-For the first time in years, according to a CNN Poll, only 48% of the American people support the death penalty given a choice between that and life imprisonment without a chance for parole. Historically those who support the death penalty have led by wide margins.
-Speaking of polls, The American Research Group Poll shows that Cain is leading in Florida! The pizza king has 34% of Republicans and Romney is second with 28%. Gingrich has risen to third with 11% and Rick Perry is only at 5%.
-Good news coming out of New Hampshire! The latest poll showed that 50% of the voters do not want to repeal marriage equality and only 27% support repeal!
-Continuing on the marriage equality front, you know we are making progress when in Nebraska even 52% of Republicans support more rights for the LGBT community. Yep, that is right - Nebraska Republicans!
-You better get your tickets real quick for Cheyenne Jackson's much talked about upcoming performance at Carnegie Hall on November 18. Tickets are going quickly and it promises to be a special evening. Just click here to get these prized seats.
-God evidently shouldn't be trusted. The deity is obviously quick with the endorsements. According to Bloomberg, the following have claim God's endorsement: Michele Bachman and Herman Cain both claim God spoke to them about running. The wives of Rick Perry and Rick Santorum have made the same claims.
-The news isn't so much that Zach Quinto has come out as is how lucky we are as the LGBT community to have such a talented and sterling performer among us.
-No sign yet that the State of Virginia won't once again keep us up again into the late hours of the morning awaiting results for their Senate race. The Richmond Times poll shows Tim Kaine and George Allen running neck and neck for the open United States Senate seat.
-Monday was a historic day in New Mexico with the opening of the first ever commercial spaceport in the world.
-In the all important South Carolina primary for Republicans, the latest poll showed Cain with a two to one lead over Romney. Cain was at 32%, Romney at 16% and Rick Perry came in third with 12%.
-North Carolina is the scene of an all out battle over a ballot measure to be voted on for next May. The voters would decide if an amendment to the State Constitution should be added to ban marriage equality. Couples have been attempting to get licences over the state in protest. The following video shows a couple of 30 years getting arrested as they attempted to get a marriage licence in Buncombe County. (It is toward the end of the emotional video). Here is the video from the North Carolina's "I Do" campaign .
Day by day it is becoming clear who will be the top tier candidates for the Republican nomination. All the ups and downs are beginning to stabilize and the long distance runners are beginning to emerge. As we are three months out from the first Republican primaries, the leading contenders are most likely Mitt Romney, Rick Perry and yes, surprisingly, Newt Gingrich. Everything in my gut tells me that the pizza king Herman Cain is not in the top tier. Too many staff problems, not enough money and with more exposure just won't sell.
Mitt Romney: Old reliable Mitt just keep hanging in there. Despite six years of campaigning he rarely breaks the 30% mark with Republican voters. Now the Tea Party types have announced a financed campaign to stop him from getting the nomination. Nevertheless, every couple of weeks he remains number one in the polls. With Christie now back to destroying New Jersey, and Sarah Palin announcing she is not in the race, Romney might start picking up the backing of more establishment oriented Republicans. In the latest Quinnipiac Poll taken this week , Romney was first but with only 22%.
Rick Perry: Good ole boy Rick Perry had a rough week. He fumbled in the debate and tumbled in the polls. He is tied with Herman Cain in second place now after vaulting to number one. Many have written off this Texas cowboy but don't do so just yet. He hauled in $17 million dollars in about a month from over 20,000 contributors. He is an effective politician who has never lost an election. Don't count him out yet.
Newt Gingrich: A couple of months ago who would have ever thought I would be putting Newt in the top three? The thrice-married Catholic convert is souring up the polls and just might be the only candidate that both sides can accept. While having no money, the endless number of Republican debates have given him incredible exposure and he is a known commodity. In the Public Policy Polling of West Virginia, Nebreska, and North Carolina, Newt finished second in all of them! Newt's favorability rating is up 28% since the last poll in North Carolina. In the Quinnipiace Poll, Gingrich jumped five points in a month while Bachmann dropped seven points.
-In the special election to fill former New York Congressman Anthony Weiner's seat, a strong anti-marriage Republican Bob Turner is leading. In good part he has gained credibility by the endorsement of former Democratic Mayor Ed Koch who wants to send a message to Israel. Really? Let's elect an anti-LGBT Republican on the back of our community for Israel? Wouldn't it be easier for Mayor Koch just to call the President instead of sacrificing our rights for another issue?
-Good news for the organization Freedom To Marry. Talented and smart Josh Meltzer (photograph) has decided to join their team as Director of Political Operations. This strengthens an already impressive team at Freedom to Marry. Evan Wolfson sure knows how to find the best and brightest!
-The Tea Party Republicans sure like to cheer death at their debates. Last night they cheered about letting a young man dieif he didn't have health insurance and was critically ill. The week before they cheered the death penalty Remind me again, what is 'compassionate conservatism'?
-The fall season is starting to kick in early for The Glass House Tavern. Recent visitors have included actors Tyne Daly, Nathan Lane (photograph), John Cullum, Judith Light and Robert Desiderio. White House Social Secretary and old friend Jeremy Bernard also broke bread there.
-Next Monday (September 19), Hofstra Law School is hosting "Marriage Equality and the Courts." Leading the discussion will be Richard Socarides and Theodore Boutrous. The panel will start at noon at 121 Hofstra Law School in Room 206 in Hempstead, New York. RSVP to kristen.d.mcmahon@hofstra.edu
-Near 30 lions have been poisoned or kill in Kenyaso far this year. They now have less than 1,500 of them left in the entire country.
-What is the best looking team in football? According to a story in The Wall Street Journal, it is the Buffalo Bills. The ugliest? Well that title belongs to the Kansas City Chiefs. Would have love to work on that survey and not sure I buy the results.
-Michael Tomasky has written a revealing article for the Daily Beast about the Republicans' war on Democratic programs and the President. The figures are actually startling. After looking at the stats, there is no question who is bringing Washington to a halt. Take a look.
-Remember Hurricane Katia hanging off our coast? Well it sped up and slammed into Ireland, Scotland and England with winds up to 80 mph. Only about five times in history has a storm made the journey all the way across the Atlantic maintaining such energy.
-Speaking of Ireland, David Norris, the openly gay candidate who withdrew from the Irish Presidential race earlier this year, has placed himself back in contention. Imagine a gay man as President of Ireland? Wonder what parade he will march in when he comes to New York City? Or if the Pope would greet him as a head of state?
-How tragic can it get? Young Andy Whitfield who had just gotten his first big break playing the title role in Starz's "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" has died at 39 of lymphoma. Our love goes out to family and friends.
-Via Towleroad comes this wonderful video of the 'first dance' at a gay wedding. Be sure to watch it until the end!
-The Independent has a fantastic article about investing in Broadway plays. If you are even considering putting a little money into a show this is a must read.
-North Carolina sure spends careful consideration in changing its State Constitution. The North Carolina House took a total of one day from committee to passing it in the larger chamber to place a marriage ban in their Constitution. What thoughtful people.
-Don't forget the Victory Fund Brunch this coming Sunday here in New York. Cheyenne Jackson is hosting and honored guests will include Mayor Annise Parker of Houston and City Council President Christine Quinn. Just click here for details .
-While the worst of the devastation from Hurricane Irene missed New York, the voters approve of Mayor Bloomberg's handling of the weather crisis. According to Quinnipaic University Poll, 86% of New Yorkers was supportive of the mayor's actions around Irene. His overall approval rating jumped 9% to a total of 54%. Ironically more Democrats like the mayor than Republicans!
-Our thoughts go to the people of Eastern Africa this week. First a ferry sank off Tanzania killing over 200 people and then a gas fire burned through the poorer sections of Nairobi killing over a 100 of its citizens.
-Boston.com's Big Picture has an amazing three dozens plus photographs of the World Trade Center over the last ten years. Know we have had saturation with 9/11 this weekend but these are worth viewing. Below are some of them and click here to see the rest and the all important photograph credits.
-Highly respected Sirrus XM radio personality Michelangelo Signorile has an outstanding piece at Advocate.com. In "Exploring The Uncomfortable Difference Between Cuomo and Obama," he goes into depth about the men's different styles and concept of leadership. This is a must read.
-Speaking of the distinguished Signorile, he was inducted into the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association's "Hall of Fame." The prestigious induction will take place in Philadelphia on August 27.
-A group called "Occupy Wall Street" is planning a huge action on September 17th. Don't know much about the action or the group but their Facebook Page has over 2,400 people already saying they are attending!
-Playbill says the Oscar winning film "The Kings Speech" is coming to Broadway. Assuming Colin Firth is not in the role, who would be your first choice to play King George VI?
-Appointed Nevada U.S. Senator Dean Heller could lose his seat to a Democrat in 2012. Democrat and friend of the LGBT community, Shelley Berkley is giving him a run for his money. At one time Senator Heller had a 13% lead over Berkley. The latest poll shows that lead has shrunk to just 3%.
-Polls are saying that President Obama is taking a deep dive in Florida. Now by 50% to 42% the citizens of the Sunshine State say the President doesn't deserve another term. He is now tied with Romney.
-White House Social Secretary Jeremy Bernard was feted at the home of Rick Jacobs in Los Angeles. Karen Ocamb of LGBTPOV was in attendance and you can find her report by clicking here.
Jonathan Capehart and Jeremy Bernard
-Still love to hear over and over again the numbers that show in states where marriage equality has passed the divorce numbers are lower not higher.
-Very dangerous Texas Governor Rick Perry, who hasn't even announced yet for the Republican nomination for President, is leading in the latest poll in Virginia among GOP voters. He gets 20% and is followed by Romney at 16% with Bachmann at 15%. If you combine the votes of Perry, Bachmann and Palin, the extremist wing of the Party totals 48%. Yikes.
-Hard to believe but almost 45 million Americans are struggling with 'food insecurity' (read here hunger) in today's economy. Wow.
-Houston business woman Jenifer Pool is running for City Council in the next Houston City elections. If elected, she will be the first trangendered person elected to that city council. She is a leader in the construction industry in the city near the Gulf.
-Remember last presidential election when there were 24 primaries or caucuses on Super Tuesday? Well, it appears the calendar is changing this next election. "Daily Beast"is reporting that only 9 will be held this coming Super Tuesday. Makes for a more boring election night but most likely a better democracy.
-One of my favorites for years has been Lily Tomlin. She will appear next season in one of my favorite television series.....NCIS. She will play McGee's grandmother. Only good can come out of this match!
-Alan Cumming (photograph) and James McAvoy are reportedly signed to do the screen adaption of Irvine Welsh's "Filth." The two handsome actors of stage and screen will have their work cut out for them in this graphic novel. Can't wait.
-No one can accuse Republic, Missouri as being the land of enlightenment. Their school voted to ban Kurt Vonnegut's classic "Slaughterhouse Five" because it is 'anti-Christian.' My guess is the next step for this School Board is to go after the "Harry Potter" books because of 'witchcraft.' (via JoeMyGod)
-The funeral of transgendered Lashai McLean who was murdered in Washington, DC was attended by many members of the LGBT community. Doing the service when the Pastor started toward an anti-LGBT tone, as many as 100 people rose and left the sanctuary in protest. BRAVO to these brave souls.
-Really want to know how America feels about the Debt Ceiling deal?CNN completed a detailed poll with extensive cross tabs showing how disenchanted we have become in America. Take a look.
-Now the U.S. Post Office says they might have to declare default. For God sakes, just end Saturday delivery and it will save a fortune. All those naysayers against such a program will adjust and plan for a shortened delivery week.
-The Glass House Tavern is starting to recover from the crowds being in the Hamptons! From my corner in the establishment this week, I could see Stephen Sondheim, Tyne Daly, Elaine Paige, Judith Light, Rory O'Malley and Bernadette Peters breaking bread in the restaurant
-One can only feel sad seeing the severe riots taking place in England. Boston.com's Big Picturehas some excellent photographs. Click here to see all of them.
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