Irrelevant he didn’t know(?) Monday, May 20 2013

So, the president spent the last week mired in scandals – one of which he has been trying to hide for months, and two fresh ones: Benghazi, AP spying, and IRS snooping. And then came many minions for the president saying that Obama didn’t know what anyone lower was doing, and that everything is “Irrelevant.” The President had the audacity to go on TV yesterday and say that he’s going to concentrate on jobs and that the scandals were all political and unimportant. There’s a line in a movie, “American President,” with Martin Sheen and Michael Douglas where the Sheen character looks at the Douglas character and says “The American people have a funny way to decide what is their business.” Yes, we do.

For a man who says he’s on top of everything so much that he can control the financial sector, healthcare, and world peace, how he now claims he knows nothing is beyond me. No matter how you look at it – a president sets a tone, he’s sets an agenda. There were plenty of calls for “crushing” the Republicans, wiping the Tea Party away, stopping the opposition – that’s the tone. Nancy Pelosi said it, Steny Hoyer said, and many other big wig Democrats said it – and the president said it – so they gave direction – however “indirect” – to the underlings. They’re not called Obamanauts for nothing.

Mr. Miller, ex-acting head of the IRS says first that no one knew but some folks in the Cincinnati office, then it turned out that other people knew – as long as a year ago. Turns out it was a few 501(c)3 or 4 applications – turns out it was hundreds. Turns out it was just in Ohio – but all over the nation. This week I’m sure will bring endless new places where such things were done. But to just say “We’re sorry” and “we won’t do it again, promise,” is not good enough. Someone ordered the underlings to do something – or were so poor in their management skills and attention that they allowed wrongful things to be done – and were clueless. So, who’s above the Cincinnati office? Who’s above them? Well, the president – and the IRS is surely one of the most visible federal agencies – surely a president should be very well ware of where he gets his money, yes?

Meanwhile, spying on the press is going to backfire on him. For it has been the press who has fawned over this man like some political savior, almost religious – “a tingle up my leg” eh? Well, yes, the press has given the president some wonderful stories – and have seemingly done his bidding almost. But when the government starts investigating the press – the press gets cranky. Right now it seems to be only AP – but the AP is sort of the ganglion at the center of the press – all the others feed off of AP – so in a sense they were all hacked and their emails spied on – since the AP talks to all the other press.

Meanwhile, turns out that many people in the press have brothers, uncles, cousins, sisters, wives and husbands in the administration – this is a sort of “non-scandal” scandal that is going to get explored too. For politics is politics, and the goal is to get into power – and the sharks have their chum – and the press and White House are too chummy. There’s no way that the relatives in the press and White House weren’t talking to each other – don’t they get together every so often?

With Benghazi – people died – the first ambassador killed in the line of duty in 30 years. We were told repeatedly that when the call came in at “3 AM” – why always middle of the night, I don’t know – that Obama would the man to take care of things. Well, did he get the call? Or didn’t anyone bother the Commander in Chief? Lord knows we’d hate to have him not well rested for the golf course and fundraising events. That the president is still fundraising is odd enough – I had thought the campaign was over. Or is he raising the money for other Democrats – in which case heaven’s knows which campaign finance laws are being broken.

Supposedly it was said that the cavalry couldn’t get there in time – well, who cares? You send them anyway. In what sort of disaster or dangerous situation do you size it up and say “ah, let ‘em die, not worth the trouble”? And that’s almost what it seemed to be. Then the White House tried to cover it all up during the election campaign. Though, what is the point of our vast military resources in Southern Europe and in the Mediterranean if they were “too far” from Libya? Struck me if a ship was off the coast of Tripoli, and the Ambassador went to Benghazi, the ship should have sailed the 600 miles to be precisely at the ready to get them out of a war-torn violent country with extreme AntiAmerican views. This wasn’t sending an IRS agent to a tea party – it was a war zone. You send unarmed civilians to a war zone and tell ‘em “tough” when the going gets rough? Oh, no, that’s the not point of the military.

It’s a different issue as to whether we should have had an ambassador there in the first place – another thing to investigate. But surely if you put personnel on the ground in a war zone you have the fire power to back ‘em up. And when the call comes in – you send in everything you can muster. Taranto is barely 300 or 400 miles from Benghazi – how fast can a jet fly? Even a helicopter surely plods along at more than 55 mph.

Then too there’s the lingering Green Energy investments that have been more Red Ink bankruptcies – who were all these people who got money to do basically nothing? Solyndra was a new company – it quickly got federal funding – and then it quickly went bankrupt. Fisker is rotting to the core. There’s a few more other boondoggles – almost after thoughts in the mess we have now – but hundreds of millions spent on absolutely nothing. They were more like campaign ads than investments. They were more publicity statements than functional businesses.

Well, there’s plenty of details out there already – and plenty more to come. And yes, the Republican’s job is to question everything (as they themselves should be questioned; to be fair, I don’t trust either side.) More political and involved bloggers than I have begun putting together this puzzle – while the White House is clearly trying to scatter the pieces.

But it is my job, as citizen – to point out that the president is in charge – and he’s responsible. I do blame him for the tone, the actions, the minions – everything. Here’s a man who claimed he would run a scandal-free administration – he’s on top of everything – not to worry, he’s brilliant. And he knows nothing? He’s so important to his own administration that no one told him anything? Oh, plausible deny-ability is a movie theme – not real life. Maybe the president hangs out with too many actors, he thinks his script says “I’m innocent.”

Even more importantly – if it is true that the IRS is too big and cumbersome, if the various agencies are too complex to truly be monitored and controlled and guided – it’s the very reason I’ve said for years that the government is too big – and that it ultimately can’t be good to get all this power in Washington. If they can’t control the IRS now – what will happen when the IRS is in charge of healthcare? That the IRS has been brought in to help run healthcare shows how utterly idiotic the whole thing is. What could the IRS do about healthcare other than extract more unions.

And it seems the NETU – or the Union that runs the IRS – (the president doesn’t, Mr. Miller doesn’t – they knew and know nothing – they’re not even sure what happened and by who – and they’re not releasing any names either, it seems) – has been donating 99% of their funds to the Democrats – while the Democrats are calling for the destruction of the Republicans. Certainly the thing is ripe for misuse, collusion and illegal activities.

Indeed, the whole rotten carcass of the Federal Government is ripe for abuse, collusion and illegal activities. As I’ve said for years – the government has become Royalty without the ermine. It bodes no well.

The best government is the least government. The president said “Don’t worry about tyranny …” in a speech in Ohio – well, sir, what you got going is tyranny. And you’re not in control? You’re against what your own administration is doing now? Now you’ll find all the bad guys? And of course, not change a jot or tittle of the system and merely get new underlings of whom you also won’t know what they’re doing – but they’ll all be political appointees? Hahaha. Don’t make me laugh.

Meanwhile, over in the Department of Justice Eric Holder is also going down the “I know nothing” route. Not about Fast and Furious gun running to drug cartels in Mexico – not about the IRS, or Tea Party Targeting – nothing. He’s even recused himself, he said, from certain important matters, because he’s got conflicts. Well, to be sure, every political appointee has conflicts – which is why we need much less power in these people’s hands.

Even if impeachment doesn’t happen (and we really don’t need it, for the trammel it will cause,) and even if no buck lands on the president’s desk – the silver lining is that it is clear now that even the most dedicated people – who loooovvvveeee big government – are completely clueless and unable to run the thing right. They have no control over anyone beneath them, eh? Well, then, lessen greatly the number of underlings – to better manage those who remain.

Some press maven’s are worried that American’s “Trust in government” is going to suffer? Who ever trusted the government? Certainly not me. Maybe it was the “NIXON RESIGNS” headline I saw when I was 14 years old. Maybe it was the police raids I experienced at a gay bar or two. Maybe it’s the Czech relatives who taught me about the wonders of big government – I have many formative experiences against government.

Frankly, I’d be very happy if people lost faith and trust in the federal government – for a long time – to start the Great Dismantlement. It is time to disentangle the people from Washington – and to return to much more local government – themselves corrupt and craven – but easier to watch and handle.

The American people just don’t need all this government – and this administration might very well be the death knell of that rallying call “Let the government do it!” Yes, well, look what they’ve done! I’m sure the mess will get worse as time goes by – and if for the next 3.5 years we have a president doing nothing but defending legal and political scandals – then we can see that we really don’t need this messianic president with a vision for the nation – but a plebe who makes sure that ambassadors are safe, the press is left to it’s own devices, and a Revenue collection system that is so much simpler than the one we have today.

One can only hope for some change.    

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Stop calling for “death to gays.” Sunday, May 19 2013

A young man was shot and killed in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York yesterday – one of the most peaceful and delightful neighborhoods in all the city – the gayborhood. It was apparently for no other reason than that the murdered man was gay. It’s a “hate crime” – a term I don’t really like, and have problems with much of it. But it sure is “hate” to just kill someone for no good reason. To just walk up to a total stranger and shoot him in the face demonstrates a hate of mind numbing proportions. From where does this hate come from? What would possess the man? On will come the opinions. Here’s mine.

Here’s the story: http://news.yahoo.com/police-call-fatal-nyc-shooting-hate-crime-175502430.html

The issue isn’t how insane this man was. That’s obvious. The issue isn’t that a gun was used – a knife might have been used, a baseball bat, a crowbar, fists, or just tying a man to a fence post on a cold Wyoming prairie. “Gun control” is not going to control a man like this. I doubt the gun was even legal. I doubt the man was allowed to own a gun – he had a prior conviction of violence.

But supposedly he uttered “anti-gay slurs” – I can’t seem to find a quote – but there were multiple if not dozens of witnesses for he did it on a crowded street in a busy place. I know this neighborhood – I went to New York University – where the man was caught as he ran away. So bold to shoot someone – he runs away. Coward.

I hung out in this neighborhood. Apparently the man was in the Stonewall Inn, threatening people. I not only know this bar – I have a very good friend of more than 40 years who works there. I shall be in the bar in just three weeks. I shall be on these streets where this man shot someone.

Apparently this is one of several incidents in a few weeks of gay men being attacked. This was the first with a gun – others were with the weapons I mentioned – it is not the weapons. These attackers specifically came to the Village to do their evil deeds. They were compelled to thrash and murder gay men – for sport. Yes, it’s a sport.

And this sport is aided and abetted in a sickening call for nothing short of the genocide of gay men by many religious and political figures in this nation. That is this constant and even more vocal that we are sick, and depraved, and evil, and abominations – and that we are to be put to death because of a Bible verse of uncertain meaning. What the hell was the ancient Aramaic for “fagot” or “queer” or “sissy” or “homosexual”? You couldn’t come up with one.

But there are people like Brian Fischer of the Americans for Family Values – who so despises my family for accepting me as I am that he calls repeatedly for them to reject me. He is demented in his disdain for me – and I do take it personally. I see no way to avoid taking very personally all this calls for “death to gays.”

This murderer, Morales, probably Puerto Rican, Catholic – did what Democrat New York State Senator Ruben Diaz called for in his Bronx anti-gay rally: Death to Gays. He had ample support from Rabbis — and from an obtuse and obese unwed mother named Maggie Gallagher who pretends to be “For” something positive. She is only “for” hounding gay people. The litany of despicable comments from her and her minion Jennifer Morse can be found at GLAAD’s accountability website — go look it up.

This sport is aided and abetted by the Family Research Council — NARTH, AFTAH, one million moms, NOM and a host of other people calling for nothing more than the elimination of gay people by any means — fair or foul. Let them mourn the murdered man — I doubt they will. Or call for “loving the sinner, and not the sin.” They will probably have more sympathy for the heterosexual murderer than they will for the “homosexual” slaughtered.

These are the same people who insist we hide and never appear — except maybe to work as slaves and penitents to their God in eternal damnation for having been born with a “Predisposition” and our fathers did something — And It’s Our Fault. They are mindless in this drivel, it is intellectually dishonest and Biblically errant.

You want to learn something, you Tea Party friends of mine? Go see www.goodasyou.com for the endless parade of nonsense and bile and calls for death of gay people. Hell, go see the comments on my article at http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/04/gays_are_much_ado_about_nothing.html – it’s mind numbing – this disdain, this hatred, these vile words from alleged Christians. They are not Christian by any measure of Christ. They are Pharisees and hypocrites at the temple door.

This constant iteration by the Catholic Church that we are “Intrinsically Evil” and a threat to all that is good is disgusting. It is nothing short of medieval thought against what they perceive of heretics.

And it is the sort of mentality of people like Morales who feed of people like the very Cardinal of New York – who will now in hypocritical mush spout platitudes that we shouldn’t be killing that which he feels is evil and from the devil and should be extirpated from this earth.

This call for our change is nothing but cultural and personality genocidal – and calls for our death are Hitlerian in scope. I’m tired of it, frankly. I think all gay men are.

We have extended the hand of peace and rational thought for 60 years – and still this arrant nonsense from otherwise sensible people that we should be compelled to change or suffer the consequences – including incessant reiterations of Leviticus 20:13.

If we are abominations to be put to death – then put up or shut up. Start the killing. Or come to your senses.

And stop encouraging people like Morales to take pistol in hand a blow a man’s face off on a pleasant evening.

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The Scandals Wednesday, May 15 2013

It is actually rather sad to see the administration mired in scandals. And not just one, but at least three – maybe more. It is not good for our nation. Oh, politically many will be happy. And surely the mess in Washington needs rational resolution. But scandals are not the way to go about it. Nothing good will come of this, at least not right away. It’ll take a while.

 Yes, the investigations should continue. The truth must be known. The guilty found and charged, and removed from responsibility. Spying on the AP – even with all the mumbo-jumbo about the need to fight terrorism – is just spying on domestic news. That’s against the 1^st Amendment. Makes no difference if Obama gave an order, or was informed. It’s not what he knew or when he knew it – it’s that it happened when the buck stopped at his desk. He’s responsible no matter how you look at it. He creates the mentality that drives the minions. With the hagiography around this man, people follow him. Everything they do they think helps him. That’s their mission. He creates that mission.

 Then there’s the IRS fracas and Tea Party groups. As Jon Stewart said, roughly: “You’ve given the conspiracy theorists ammunition.” Well, yes, shows the paranoid aren’t as paranoid as anyone thinks. Indeed, as I can do, it is often said that gay guys are paranoid – well, sure – look who’s against us and what they say? And so, once again, Tea Party and gay men have something in common – a government which discourages their 1^st Amendment Rights to assemble and redress their grievances – even with heated language. I dare say, if “God Hates Fags” is 8-1 Supreme Court acceptable, so is “We hate government.”

 There’s Benghazi too. This is the most serious of them all. The first two scandals are rather tiny – no death was involved – and this sort of political shenanigans has been going on for some time. Nixon comes to mind. So does Woodrow Wilson, but that’s history. So does the Alien & Sedition Act – but that’s ancient history – the early 1800s. But the death of an ambassador, and Marines, and well, people, Americans, of any kind, in a foreign land – that gets attention. Well it should. Why were we there in the first place? That’s a deeper question than what the president did or didn’t. Why would anyone think that we could have an “ambassador” on the ground in Libya? At most an “observer” with some strong back up is about all we could hope for. We won’t understand that place for decades, if ever. Even putting the man there, and his entourage of civilians was foolhardy.

 But the excuses, cover ups, the “what difference does it make?” – all this lying, prevaricating, dissembling, the entire panoply of “it’s national security, so we can make stuff up” cannot stand. It’s antithetical to the reason of our nation. Sure, there’s some secretes, governments always have that. But we’ve gone way beyond it – to doing stuff without saying why – and then just blithely lying and dismissing any concern when the screw ups occur.

 The argument that we had no forces nearby is so lame I can’t imagine a sane American official uttering it. Why on earth do we have bases in Italy, in Traranto, and elsewhere, and why do we have a fleet – the Sixth I think, correct me if I’m wrong – with an aircraft carrier with a 100 most sophisticated jets man can make – and hordes of helicopters. We have advisers and equipment in any number of the nearby countries – anybody – any one of them – could have been called in. Don’t tell me they would have been ineffective. The psychological reaction to American aircraft of any kind swooping in, buzzing the crowd, firing a few tracer shells surely would have given the crowd pause – a few more moments for the doomed – who may then have not been doomed. Meanwhile, even more forces could have come. Try at least. Always.

 To say nothing could be done recants the entire point of all our many forces in the region. I marveled during the beginning of the Libyan “crisis” that we were wholly unprepared to deal with it. The very reason we pay the president, his minions, the Joint Chiefs and on down, is to have a plan – to know what to do – and have the means to do it. What point are billions in defense – if we can’t send in a helicopter, drone, jet – anything. What is the point of a commander in chief if the response is “can’t do a thing”?

 Meanwhile, there’s still Fast & Furious, there’s Solyndra and so many other boondoggles. This administration is verklempt. Either on purpose, as more and more are beginning to say – or through sheer incompetence. This incompetence comes from their ideological blinders. They see things through prisms which shift reality out of all proportions.

 On top of this – virtually everyone is recognizing that ObamaCare is not going to work. “A train wreck” Democrat “I voted for it to find out what was in it” Max Baccus said. Of what need are legislators and presidents if all they can do is gum up the works or do nothing? At most they seem inept even at spying and disrupting their “political enemies.” Since when are people in this country enemies? I have never grasped that. Oh, sure, disagree on the current tax rate – state your position, marshal your facts – but to call the other side “enemies” is unAmerican. Were did this idea come from? It’s almost communist in the “enemies of the people” mindset. Any group of people cannot be “enemies of the people” – they are Americans. 

And Liberty requires us to figure out a way to get along – not to declare each other enemies to be conquered and forced to do our bidding. Perhaps that’s one problem with the current Left & Right – each thinks they have the one and only one answer. The other shall be vanquished or the nation doomed. Nonsense. America is about the preservation and encouragement of peaceful differences.

If you want to save the environment, plant a tree. If you wish to support the oil industry jobs, drive a Hummer. Between the two America will move on. But it’s coming to a screeching halt as each side demands either tree or Hummer – and not both.

Which is one reason for the administration’s problems – “We won.” And now they think they will remake the place or something. And along the way their well laid plans have failed, and blown up in their faces – and all their huff and puff about change is shown to be the same old thing: sheer human and political and liberty-thought incompetence.

Well, if any good comes out of this mess is that the American basic distrust of government results in the dismantlement of the behemoth we have. Can’t send a jet. What’s the point of it, then? Can’t do a thing. Why are you in power? We must investigate everyone. Why are you paranoid? Well, now you’ve give us reason. Thanks, you’ll unite the nation yet.  

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Lessons of my 55th B’day Tuesday, May 14 2013

Yesterday was my 55^th Birthday. Oh, I had fun enough.

But I want to make this clear to gay guys who read this blog and straight folks as well:

I’m from a generation that was harassed, chastised, harangued – illegal, scorned, despised – oh the list of negative adjectives can almost be expanded exponentially.

I’m not bitter, or upset, or somehow felt I missed out – I had a great life.

Yesterday was my 55^th B’day –

and what I realized is that virtually any gay man over 40-50 went through what I did. Oh, I was lucky – for my family and 90% of my co-workers were fine with me. But I know too many who were not as lucky – yet not a one is bitter or upset or a typically aggrieved minority in this nation – seeking government handouts.

 I have for decades always viewed my gay activism as for the youth: for those gay men younger than myself.

 Oh, I did a lot – I’m thinking of writing a memoir – virtually none of which has to do with lobbying or radical or militant or whatever other word any of us are called.

Oh, it will take a book to express what I mean – it’ll have to wait – one is in progress.

Ah, the differences we older gay men have wrought in the face of heterosexuals.  

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4 Subjects & A Funeral Friday, May 10 2013

Being busy with life cuts down on my blogging. As Samuel Johnson said: only a fool doesn’t write for money. Well, so I’m foolish. Anyway, the week’s news has been strange as always. Let’s take a look at a few things.

The Benghazi mess is slowly grinding along. From “What difference does it make” to “It matters to me” the quotes come fast and furious. The question is becoming beyond “what did the president know and when did he know it?” to “what did the president not do, and why?” Meanwhile, it seems virtually every administration official involved is stonewalling or lying or prevaricating. Either by refusing information and honest answers to questions, or simply making things up, to not telling the whole story and leaving out salient details. It doesn’t bode well. There’s ever increasing calls by the Right for more investigation, and more accountability, and even some say, impeachment discussions. The Left of course is saying “why bother.” Well, we bother because a US ambassador was killed in the line of duty for the first time in 30 years. Surely it matters that this happened.

Should we have even had a man on the ground? I’m of the opinion that one ambassador for the region is far better than having an individual and a whole entourage in these violent, dangerous countries. Why have an ambassador in Libya, Algeria or Tunisia? These places are in an uproar. We barely speak the language on a literate level, never mind in the fluency of local lingo that we would need to know to know what’s going on. Oh, it’s one thing to monitor their communications that are sent across the airwaves, the NSA is good at that, I’m sure. But we can’t know what’s happening in the face to face meetings as the various warlords parlay for advantage. And it is exactly warlords that are seeking power. Oh, I’m sure they go by nice names like “general” and “party secretary” and “ex-minister” or even “respected figure.” These cultures have pecking orders – we can’t hope to understand it. At most we stand around there and wait to be spoken to.

 So what is the purpose of an ambassador in these places? And surely we don’t have one in Lebanon, do we? Whom would represent that nation? Such a loose term for the place. I doubt we have one in Syria at the moment – though there are countries with ambassadors there. Why? To get the take of the murderous regime? Or are we trying to learn up close which murderous leader-in-waiting is going to win, and maybe even influence which creep gets in. The idea that “Syria’s” view of Israel is going to change is wishful dreaming. The politics of that nation are predicated on being opposed to Israel.

 Egypt is a wreck too. And we’re talking about giving any of these places money? Let the Saudis give the cash. We’d wind up backing the wrong guy – and most of the money stolen or used for weapons of no use to the people. The idea that Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, even Egypt, really needing their over-developed armed forces is laughable. All they would do is invade each other. Surely they’re not heading south across the Sahara and Sagreb. Maybe they are, who cares if Chad or Niger or Mali become client states of the northern oil states? It would probably lead to more peace for the people of these places. Right now Africa north of Kinshasa is encased in violence. There is no help or assistance we could give that’s going to solve their problems. It is so internecine we should stay out.

 Meanwhile, across the globe there’s North Korea – calmed down a bit. Probably because the pipsqueaks realized that we supply them with food, oil, money, and scotch. And to go to war with us is suicidal. Perhaps our ambassador or interest section there made this plain to them. Spoken softly, and point to the big stick. But that’s not the end of it. No, it’s merely a breather, until round 10, or whatever round we’re up to. That nation is a human disaster zone. No rational person could possibly agree that the sovereignty of the artificial nation is so important that we shouldn’t work to get rid of the regime. Sure, it’ll be a mess once it’s free, and difficult to put to rights – but it must be done. No group of 17 million people deserve to live like they are living there – while their compatriots and ethnic kin across the border are enjoying pizza and high speed internet. The idea is ludicrous that this regime has any validity to rule.

 Is it easy to get rid of such regimes? Absolutely not. At least not the way we go about it now. Sanctions, schmanctions, if anything, it sets up a profit center for the truly unscrupulous. Meanwhile, what is there to sanction? We provide them with the wherewithal to live and they have nothing we need. No one really trades with North Korea. Oh, a joint factory isn’t trade – it’s ping-pong diplomacy with factory workers instead of ballplayers. The NK’s threw out the SK’s anyway. So, it’s nothing now. There seems to be no developed natural resources for export, no goods made, no delicacies of the culture akin to French cheese and Italian wine. So what trade are we to cut? We send them the food on humanitarian grounds. Instead of giving the people there a fishing rod and a pond, we’re showing them some cod-flakes and saying “survive if you can.” Who knows if the aid even gets to the people there, or if the regime isn’t shipping the stuff right back out for some hard currency. They’re printing our currency while they’re at it. We know it, the world knows it. Cut the charade, cut the aid, cut the lifeline of the regime, undermine it and eliminate it and let those people go.

 Then there’s the president’s call to Jason Collins – all about “courage” – nonsense. It takes courage for some kid still at home to come out to his parents and wonder if he’ll be shown the door or a curing center, or kept in the bosom of the family. It takes courage for a gay kid to be gay from the get go – not go pretend heterosexual for all one’s life. Collins had a fiancee for heaven’s sake. There is no courage in lying. He lied. If he’s truly “gay” – he sure didn’t play one in real life. He led such a heterosexual lifestyle that “bisexual” doesn’t seem to cut it. If he was diddling with men – it was cheating, adultery, down low – call it what you wish. Skunking around in hiding? He did no gay man any service. He basically said “I’m ashamed of my being, I don’t want to be gay” and then did what he could to be heterosexual. There’s no courage in that – it’s cowardice if you ask me.

 Go ask the gay folks at www.imfromdriftwood.com about coming out to the people who matter – who can make a difference – a very real one – in your life. At this site are hundreds of stories about gay folks who had to really have courage. They didn’t get a call from the president.

 So why did the president call Collins? Well, if there’s one way to get the opposition’s mind off of Benghazi, North Korea, the economy, immigration “reform” and a host of other matters of the faltering 2^nd term – it’s call a gay guy. And sure enough, the president called – announced the call – and then sat back and watched the fireworks. For a week it was Collins this and Collins that. The man trying desperately hard to come up with a 2^nd career after his first is at its end. Frankly, it wouldn’t surprise me if the man was married to a women within 5 years and the gay thing all forgotten. Did the president use the call to push for any other pro-gay measure? No, he did not. In fact, he wasn’t even sure about including gay couples in the immigration bill he’s pushing. It was an afterthought by some senator or something.

 That it might mean a few hundred at most gay men added to the nation shows how some are so very opposed to our existence. Of course, if they allowed spousal connections to come, well, then DOMA would be obsolete. That it will be obsolete shortly, either after this go round, or the next set of lawsuits in the pipeline against it, is true. Not to mention that not including gay couples in immigration because of DOMA is just yet another avenue to tackle it by lawsuits.

 So, the president sidetracked everyone from his mess he’s got going – and Collins gets to write a book and maybe get a TV movie deal about his “courage” of cheating on his fiancee of 8 years while claiming he’s “Gay” and never once having lived a gay life whatsoever. How a man who lives with a woman, pretends to be straight, never a rumor even have I heard that he was gay before his announcement. In fact, not in the vast coverage of the matter was it even alluded to that it was whispered or rumored that he was “gay” – seems he was not in the least.

 That he has a twin who is not supposedly adds some “no gay gene, no gay gene!” nonsense to the matter is funny – for it is well known that “identical” twins have different fingerprints – apparently at least one or two genes are a bit not identical. Meanwhile, much less known – no twin men have the same penis size, shape, or contours, etc – this I know for a fact. So if two of the most intrinsic physical attributes of twins are not identical in the least – don’t go tell me they’re “identical” because they have “identical genes.” Something is different, clearly.

 Meanwhile, the economy continues tanking in broad measures, while certain government pumped up sections bloom. The housing bubble is starting again – we’re lending money to people with no credit, no income, no down payments. Prices are up everywhere – while unemployment is up. Oh, sure, there’s supposedly a downward trend in “unemployment.” The problem is that’s there’s a downward trend in “employment” too – while there is an vast increase in disability and welfare, food stamps and people who just stopped looking. There’s even mention now of an increase of the underground economy, or non-taxed economy of 2 Trillion Bucks. Yes, well, people still have to make money. Yard sales are up, ebay use is up. People are bartering more, paying cash. Everyone is getting in the game of hiding income and work from the government. I’d say it’s far higher than $2 trillion.

 The stock market is booming – not because of any increase in business per se. But because the rest of the world is so much worse off than us that foreign wealth is pouring into the thing – and the rich are making out well. The rich are avoiding taxes in their own countries, for the spread between gains and taxes that can be made on a stock market divorced from any real economic activity. You can’t buy stock in bankruptcy and liquidation firms – they’re too small – but that’s a booming sector of the economy. Along with tattoo parlors that will seeming paint the people into unemployable forever status. And pawn shops – booming. Two new one’s I’ve seen open in my town with its hundreds and hundreds of empty retail stores. I’d say a 1/6^th of the retail space in Tucson is empty – where did all those businesses go? The city claims its growing – the number of empty houses and apartments grows right along with it. Where are all the people moving? If they’re not sopping up the empty places, then are they really coming? Hmm.

 Finally, there’s the Boston Murderer who can’t get a decent burial. Well, people don’t want the cad buried next to or near their kin – I don’t blame him. If ever there was a candidate for deporting someone, it’s the kid’s body. Send it back to where it came from. He was so into his homeland that he blew up Boston? Send him back to the land he loves. Why would you give his poor dead soul another moment in the land he came to hate?

 Apparently, somebody decided to give the kid a break – like he gave no one – and allow him to be buried in private somewhere in America. I’m sure the press will find out – then we’ll all discuss that for a few days – should he or should he not get any sort of burial. Well, we’re more modern now, so we don’t just hurl the carcasses to the wild animals, that’s for sure. Yes, it’s a difficult situation. No matter what is done someone will complain. Still, deporting the body would be best.

 And that’s my round up of the week’s news. Four or five subjects and a funeral. It was almost a movie, I’m sure.  

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So what Gays aren’t Christians? Thursday, May 2 2013

So, Jason Collins says he’s gay, the world is agog because there’s another one of us – this time a major team sports guy. They’ve been coming out for years … usually after their careers. The idea that this is some milestone is absurd. The man is already at the end of his career. Plus – apparently – he’s had a girlfriend for 8 years. Plus – apparently – he was either on the down low (aka, cheating) or in an open relationship – or he’s “bisexual” or something. Who knows? Who cares?

In a way Rush Limbaugh is right – it’s “being shoved down our throats” – but Limbaugh is very wrong for why it is. Gay guys are apparently America’s new political toy – used by left and right to avoid the real problems. And what a fine distraction from the rest of the mess as caused by heterosexuals. After all, we’re not part of the over extended social welfare state – we just pay the taxes. No programs for us, after all. Collins just boosts our average, if we want to count him in our taxpaying tally.

 But one thing that made the kaboon was Christ Broussard’s comments. He’s the ESPN sportscaster who took it upon himself to say rather publicly that Mr. Collins isn’t a Christian. Then the Rush’s of this world rushed to defend Christianity as if it was in dire threat. And the first thing I thought was:

 So what if Mr. Collins isn’t a Christian of the exact sort that Mr. Broussard likes?

 Who is a sportscaster to determine who and who shall not be called a Christian?

 And, where in our government structure, in our nation’s founding documents, does it say anyone must be a Christian of the sort Mr. Broussard likes? I can’t find a blessed word that says American citizens must be this sort of Christian and no other. I didn’t see a theologian ever defer to Mr. Broussard the definition of “Christian.”

 And too Mr. Broussard stated the obvious – which everyone knows – some Christians believe gay men are sinners and just can’t be Christians. This is news?

 He adds that Mr. Collins is sick and ill and in need of treatment and cure. Again, not news. It is oft said by many Christians of Mr. Broussard’s sort that gayness is both a medical condition of some kind and a free will and choice sin. Well, sorry, you can’t have it both ways. Are we made and somehow sent astray – as all the many theories postulate? Or do we just wake up in the AM and decide to magically turn off our inner heterosexual? No one is clear. There’s not a heterosexual clear on the mechanisms of our gayness. They just want it gone – or at least well noted that you can’t be a Christian if one is gay. So be it, we’re not Christians. And this means …? Well, they don’t say, other than to make sure everyone knows what Christians think about gay men.

 What’s news is that there’s so many nuances to the basic idea that it takes a book to sort them out – I’m working on it now. What’s news is the amazing surety which every heterosexual uses to speak about the thing every other heterosexual is also equally sure – even if they are at direct odds.

 Meanwhile, whether Collins is or isn’t smooching men between his busy job and his girlfriend, what difference does it make? That he’s not a Christian? There are already open Muslims in sports, and probably a few Jews – and so now there is a “pagan” or “non-religious” person of some amorphous definition. So what?

 The president, desperate to turn away from focusing on the economy and the governance has quickly evolved to welcome gay men – and pose himself as our leader and savior. Well, when the economy cranks, gay men will be just as shocked and miffed as the rest of everyone. The president I don’t like, I’ve made it clear. I think the gay discussion is silly: “oh my, sissies!” Like it’s so new, so weird. Oh, I suppose us asking for a shred of decency is odd.

 But this asking for decency actually involves not hearing again from sundry heterosexuals that we’re not Christians, and that we don’t conform to your views of what mankind should be, and that we’re not what you like walking around. For we do walk around. And there’s nothing in the American ideal that says one group of citizens should be hounded for the good of the rest.

 Meanwhile, if gay men are mentally ill as Mr. Broussard avers, it’s the strangest darn illness ever to surface – for it requires such a plethora of outside sources in a odd circles that it makes Ptolemy blush at the complexity. We need a predisposition, and a strong, weak, absent or something father, and such a mother, and a gay uncle, and our birth order is important, and then we need some guy lurking down the block and other environmental and nurturing factors and then we choose.

 It’s so blockheaded – this melange of theories which makes gay men mentally ill that I’d rather wish you’d clear it up first – rather than keep blathering on about what you think, or think you know. No one has a clue. You all admit it.

 And yet, well, we’re the flavor of the moment. It’s like living in a hurricane of words. The next gay person who is found, and the next, the next, each instance will have the same ingredients. It’s de rigueur. Why, even Doctor Ruth chimed in to say “it’s sad” because “it’s a private matter.” Which is hysterical for heterosexuals are quite open about your sexuality. You’re like a bunch of bonobos for heaven’s sake. I can’t open a browser window without being assaulted by screaming flaunting heterosexuals in some pushing of your sexuality. Why, there’s nothing private about it – you have billboards for gentleman’s clubs in Baptist cities – are you people blind?

 Yes, Ruth, Broussard, the President, most everyone, Collins too – are blind to the silliness of the whole discussion. A sissy is found and the world agog – and no one can find the reason the deficit has gone nuts because of heterosexuals marauding through society.

 I find it hysterically funny to ever think that sissy smooching could be this important that it requires everyone and their mother to chime in about what it means to heterosexuals that a sissy exists. Yeesh, no wonder the country is a mess. Grow up people.

 And you don’t have to keep saying “Gay men can’t be Christians.” We get it – we understand this – we are well aware of all the Bible verses. We know the Book better than heterosexuals that’s for sure, we get it quoted to us frequently. So what we don’t join your church?

 Where in America does it say I or Collins or any of us gay men have to be a member of your church? And you can’t even agree on which one – should I be made a Catholic and live in self-flagellating negation and penitent prayer for having had the temerity to be born with a predisposition – as they claim exists. Or am I do simply pray away the gay in a Protestant denomination and find a woman? The demands are murky, and indeed, just absurd.

 Other than that, I suppose now, over the rest of the Obama term we’ll have to have a brouhaha over every single new sissy found anywhere. They’ll be looking under the rocks for us in desperation for a story to avoid the real problems of heterosexuals in this nation once we all come out. Thank heaven’s there’s only maybe 8 million of us. But really, so what if we’re not your type of Christian? It’s allowed. It’s America.  

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Allen West could have won Wednesday, May 1 2013

Allen West is a good man. I like his positions on many issues. I like his verve, his take charge demeanor, his ability to sum things up. Perhaps that’s his military training. I think he would have made a fine congressman. Alas, he lost. He lost by 2000 votes. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/allen-west-concedes-defeat-florida-race-article-1.1204978

I think I know one reason he may have lost. In a very visceral & raw political way I think I can explain.

I know his district. I’ve been going there since 1969, when my grandparents moved there. Many relatives of mine have lived there. I’ve owned a house there. My father lives there; he’s a little real estate mogul. My brother, too. And sundry cousins, family friends, etc. In the 1990s I owned the Florida Trade Show Company. Our headquarters were in West Palm Beach. I put on trade shows in Palm Beach County. It’s the Florida 22^nd. Here’s a map, so we know what we’re talking about.

 

I published Business Plus, a short lived business magazine for this area. I had a comedic but serious radio show, Havoc With Hlavac, on WPBR 1340AM. Many of my New York friends have family in the area too. I’ve had jobs there, and I’ve owned a plant nursery. While I no longer live there, I go there still. So, in these many guises I’ve had ample opportunity to learn the district, over a period of decades. I watched it grow to what it is today. I guess I know it as well as a Congressman could know it, only better.

Now, Fort Lauderdale, the district to the south, is a Gay haven – and not at all like any of the inner city you bewail. So rich that the more frugal or poorer gays moved north. To Oakland Park, in the district, to Pompano, Delray, Lantana, Lake Worth – right up the coast. Florida’s 22^nd isn’t just an “average” district when it comes to gay men – it’s above average.

I also know every gay bar in the district. Many for decades in the same place. I also know many of the men there. Many are quite conservative. They are working men, owning businesses, good jobs, retired, paying taxes. They are quiet men just living lives, often near their elderly parents, like I did. These are gay men. Not radical homosexuals by any means. At their core they are conservative men – other than their smooching, I guess. They are certainly not Leftists in any political sense. They are not happy with the way the nation is going, either.

On the other hand, there’s practical politics. Winning. To get 2,000 votes, or a few donations to pay for more campaign fliers and signs, Mr. West, or one of his staff, or someone who could say “I’m speaking for the campaign …” could have gone to one of the district’s many gay churches, bowling leagues, businessman’s luncheon’s, professional meetings, sports leagues, or some essentially normal setting and said “Hello, we have a national economic problem – regardless of all else …” and somehow asked for the votes and the money without making any commitment or public splash.

Nothing more than “hello” – and the press would have nothing to talk about – for there’s no controversy which they love. At most a headline of “Campaign staffer visits gay bowling league.” Instead, during the campaign this confounded subject of our existence came up – as it will continue to do. Everyone said something. I’m not going to go over that part. That’s the political fight I don’t really like; water under the bridge. But that’s the part that made the press.

Meanwhile, the economic health of this nation is far more important than any other issue. Neither “Gay Marriage” or a “cure” for us is going to make a difference if the money is no good, goods are unavailable, and there’s riots in the streets and a police crack down and all the rest we’re all worried about. And if the Democrats keep getting in office that might well happen. On the other hand, politics makes strange bedfellows. And knowing gay men and my family and friends in District 22 I can assure you, a mere “hello” might have sufficed – rather than what was said.

From my many years of working, living and visiting the area I know there’s just not enough people willing to disparage gay men anymore. I was a busy little activist, I assure you. I got my family to write letters to the Florida Orange Commission about Anita Bryant in the 1970s. Later on doing good works, and hiring people, and helping my father write his memoirs, in this district. You don’t have to like it, but well, there’s a catch, in the 22^nd you have to put up with it.

Which brings me to a larger point. Telling gay people and anyone who likes us to vote for the other side, for Democrats and socialism, has got to be the weirdest election strategy I’ve ever heard of. I’m a practical man. Getting votes is how you win elections. I’m also a diehard Sarah Palin fan, whether you like it or not. Now, I’m willing to put up with a lot of gruff from many people about my politics. But other people are not, and they listened in the 22^nd. So West lost. But, if he had followed my advice and said “hello” to some of my friends he would have had his 2,000 votes.

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The multifaceted gay debate Saturday, Apr 27 2013

I’ve been busy with life. I don’t get paid to do this, so it’s low priority. It’s a beautiful Saturday morning to think a little about recent times.

But as I read a bunch, and write a bunch, and watch the nation consumed over gay men – and it’s all about us gay guys – who is anyone kidding? And what to do with us – I keep noticing a huge disconnect. There’s the metaphysical “Homosexual” – he does something or other. There are many theories, ideas, solid conclusions. He’s not a nice guy, I hear.

Then there’s the scientific “homosexuality” – no one knows where it comes from or why. There are many theories.

Then there’s gay men living lives. We are peaceful productive guys who well, just live nice lives. American dreamish, if you ask me. Nice jobs, houses, cars, good works, fun times, disposable income, self-supporting decent folks who help their moms. Indeed, gay men seem to be very family friendly, as opposed to the anti-family homosexual.

Then there’s the sissy factor. Undeniable, the word in every language. The concept clear. Not a person alive can’t define a sissy. Oddly, most sissies are gay men, or homosexuals, and have homosexuality (since we seem to get it, it must be had, yes?) and most gay men, homosexuals and homosexuality are sissies. It’s a weird connection – but, being a stereotype in our politically correct times, it’s not allowed to be pointed out. Well, the hell with that idea. Sissy smoochers are just too cute to really worry about, yes? Much better than a homosexual activist, I assure you.

Then there’s the LGBT community – which is no such thing at all. But are four disparate people that the public views three of them with a far more benign perspective. Lesbians are almost popular – why, Hugh Hefner and Larry Flynt made millions off of them. Ellen, for heaven’s sake. Oh, to be sure Lesbians have their problems – but I rarely hear demands for them to change – only that any given man is more than willing to jump to the task. I see no women lined up to take on the challenge of heterosexualizing a gay man, that’s for sure.

Then there’s bisexuals. Well, there aren’t, really. Not to my mind. I don’t care what anyone says. Yes, there are men who have had sex with men, as it’s called in many places. There have always been men who have dabbled with other men – but that’s situational, or “hey, I’ll try it once.” – not a one of these men think of themselves as gay or “bisexual.” Any that I met who claimed they were were soon totally gay. For, they were gay, and coming out, and it is, for some gay men, very easy to hide with a woman. I don’t know how they do it, but they do. But, they all are gay within a few years of meeting them. I haven’t met more than a few, I confess. Which goes to show how rare they are. But never have I met and or heard of a gay man who dabbled in woman. No, it’s always a man with a wife or girlfriend who dabbles in men.

Then there’s transgendered. Well, they’re heterosexuals. Christine Jorgensen was a man who became a woman who got legally married to a man. Chaz Bono is a woman who became a man who will legally marry a woman. What these heterosexuals have to do with gay men I don’t know. There seems to be some political thing. I don’t get it. I don’t like it. I argued against it. And well, I’m a radical, I guess.

And so this vaunted community doesn’t really exist. It’s a construct of people who like jobs in Washington DC or perhaps the large cities or state capitals so they can talk to politicians. And talking to politicians isn’t really where the gay thing is going to be solved. No, it’s going to be talking to people. Just like gay men always did.

That’s the strangest thing about gay men. We’re talkative fellows. And somewhere around 1950 we all decided, individually, yet, collectively, to talk to everyone we knew about the views prevalent at the time. And at that time, it can charitably be said that 100% of society was against us in every way imaginable. Oh, here and there there were decent folks, there are always decent folks. But still, the general 100% consensus was that something was wrong and it needed to be fixed, punished or both.

In 1969 we had our one riot. There hasn’t been a gay violent episode since. There were a few tussles beforehand. A handful of skirmishes at various bars. But they didn’t develop into anything big. They fizzled. One reason I think, besides the brief ferocity that had never been witnessed, is the very name of the bar which was raided – for the good of the people.

Stonewall. The name says something. It has a solidity to it. I don’t think anyone did is consciously. I’ve never seen such a connection in print. But I believe there was something to the word itself. The Confederate general accidentally shot by his own men, but stoic till the end. The permanence of the Chinese Wall. The legacy of Hadrian’s wall. Minutemen hiding behind stonewalls to fight the British. Something solid, long lasting, protective. Stonewall just worked better than say “Pat’s Bar” or “Pussy Cat Lounge.”

 in 1969 we started to say “No” to this nonsense about us. And well, here we are. And now, in a few weeks there will be another cascade of articles when the Supreme Court hands down their decisions on the two gay cases. I may have to hide. It’s mind numbing the way the issue is discussed.

 Every heterosexual has an opinion – and everyone of you thinks each of you is correct. Even when in direct contradiction to each other. This is because these opinions are strongly held, even religious in nature. The sheer number of theories and opinions on the issue is daunting to wade through. Maybe impossible at this point. And in all of it, there’s barely a word about any real gay men.

 It’s all about same-sex and homosexuals and sexuality and homosexuality – you folks are obsessed with our sex lives. We don’t think about it that much, we don’t.

 It’s all about what we will do to you. Amazingly, 300 million people are somehow worried about what maybe 8 million (160 million males x 5% of all ages, 0-100) will do to you – if only you say something nice. No, we’re still a problem somehow. You’re not sure. You’re working on it. Evolving as the president said. Working on being nice, reasonable, rational, with real information, and factual data, and some logic. Wow. It must be hard. That’s obvious from what is said — for it’s often the very opposite of these things I mention.

 Other than that, like I said, I’ve been busy. I’m planning a trip to my niece’s wedding, I have to take down an art exhibit. I’ve had dentist work. I’ve been painting, playing the piano, reading, writing, blah blah blah, and cleaning the house, clothes and body. You know, living. The oft forgotten part of the debate. Perhaps it’s the stuff homosexuals don’t do.

 It’s almost like we exist in an existential void. And everyone looks into the void to wonder what it’s all about. Fascinating. Pointless in many ways. And I feel like quite the anthropologist as I read what people say on the matter. I certainly need a score card to keep track of all the theories, ideas and conclusions. Though there’s few actual facts mentioned. Still fascinating.

 Anyway, that’s why I’ve been away from posting once again. I have better things to do then worry about other people’s worries over my existence.

Oh, and the gay side is just as confused — but differently. Thankfully none of our alleged leaders has gotten too public — for they can really only speak for themselves. For the gay subject isn’t really public, it’s what each of us does with the people in our lives. We’re not some group in some place. We’re individuals with whoever we know. “We” don’t want this or that — “we” just want decency from anyone we may encounter. That’s about the only thing we have in common as gay men.  

Still, it’s quite a multifaceted debate, and I can’t wait to the exciting conclusion.  

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Masha Gessen does not speak for me Monday, Apr 22 2013

Today I came across some idiot broad named Masha Gessen – after a modicum of research I learned this quote:

“It’s a no-brainer that (homosexual activists) should have the right to marry, but I also think equally that it’s a no-brainer that the institution of marriage should not exist. …(F)ighting for gay marriage generally involves lying about what we are going to do with marriage when we get there — because we lie that the institution of marriage is not going to change, and that is a lie.”

Here’s just one site she’s mentioned on – the search engines are filled with this twit’s nonsense. She is appalling and is so far from what I and all my friends think I can’t imagine such polar opposites.

http://www.rightwingnews.com/uncategorized/activist-masha-gessen-on-the-real-purpose-of-the-marriage-push/

There is no such thing as anyone who speaks for all gay folks, and what our purposes are. That idea is absurd. It’s as if saying Joe Biden speaks for all heterosexual men, or Jane Fonda for all heterosexual women.

And no lesbian ever spoke for what gay men think, that’s for sure. If this is the Leftist concept of gayness then I’m angrily opposed to it. This mush is absurd. She’s dangerous and illogical – crazed and mordant. She is the exact opposite of what I’ve been arguing for 40 years.

The very idea that she thinks she can speak for all gay people is nonsensical. That anyone would buy into the idea that she speaks for all gay people is equally absurd. She doesn’t know who I am or what I think. She doesn’t know any of the gay couples I know. She doesn’t know a single gay man I know or what they think – and with all of whom I’ve explored the marriage issue with.

It is people like this who make my life difficult. She comes from Russia to cause me grief? Deport the damn bitch. Oh, I’m just so friggin’ mad I can barely stand it.

I’ve been working on decency towards gay men for 40 years. I’ve been speaking of gay relationships for those same 40 years. Now this twit comes along and wipes out my work in a heartbeat? Disgusting.

To be clear – this idiot does not speak for gay folks – she speaks for some radical reordering of society. Every single gay man I know has sought to be included in what exists – not remake it. We all live within the society, not trying to change anything – other than get rid of the theocratic-political-medical complex against us. Oh, we got most of it gone, there’s some stragglers – “gay perplexed” I call them; I’m not worried.

Now comes this idiot from a foreign land claiming to speak for me? She’s out of her fucking mind.

I don’t curse in my writing – but this shit is too much. I’m so pissed I’m beside myself.

And now, because this stupid cunt said something – my friends and I get lumped in with this twat.

Ooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhh – I want to smack her sorry ass into tomorrow.

 

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My Flopping Aces Post Monday, Apr 22 2013

The good people at Flopping Aces have let me have my two cents over there — so I post the link – http://floppingaces.net/2013/04/21/a-white-picket-fence-a-garden-reader-post/ 

and that’ll be my writing for a few days — I’ve got way too much to do in my life these next few weeks. 

You know, I don’t get paid to do this — and well, cashola takes precedence. Enjoy, and don’t worry, I’ll write again here soon enough.

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