[ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]

Replies:

• Every student who has the courage to be in a GSA has my highest respect. I thank each and every one of you for making the world a better place. (NT) -- Sergio, 12:22:36 05/01/03 Thu
  • I wonder how many of these young GSA members really think of themselves as heroes? Not many, I suspect. I remember when Chris was forming his GSA he wrote (I’m paraphrasing here to the best of my memory) “I’m no hero. I’m just tired of being hassled every day at school”. Real heroes often don’t think of themselves in that way, but lots of other people understand that all these kids truly are heroes. And lots of people are inspired by their courage. I know I am. (NT) -- Dano, 13:43:59 05/01/03 Thu
    • You are right. They are heros because their peers and my kids and their friends and peers will be hassled just that much less, and be able to find a safe place to be the people that God created them to be. I was so proud to hear on the radio this morning that a new HS in my district has started a GSA. Proud of those kids, and of course the ones here. Thank you! (NT) -- Trevor/TJ, 18:24:40 05/01/03 Thu
• That's an awesome suggestion. I'll bring it up at our next meeting. Thanks Lance. You're our hero, you know. (NT) -- Chris, 17:03:58 05/01/03 Thu
  • Chris, you guys just blow my mind. I stand back in open mouthed admiration for you. -- Kris, 12:05:19 05/02/03 Fri
• ****HUGS EVERYONE**** I love all of you!! (NT) -- Jordana, 18:53:05 05/03/03 Sat

[ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]

Replies:

• Canadian Gay Couples Celebrate Decisive Court Victory -- Drew Greyfox, 21:57:55 05/01/03 Thu
• Hate-Crime Bill Back In Congress -- Drew Greyfox, 21:59:41 05/01/03 Thu
• Gay Marriage Ban Moves Forward In Mass. -- Drew Greyfox, 22:02:08 05/01/03 Thu
• Connecticut Gays Say Push For Civil Unions Not Over -- Drew Greyfox, 22:04:31 05/01/03 Thu
• Player Issues Non-Apology For Homophobic Tirade -- Drew Greyfox, 22:08:25 05/01/03 Thu
• Nebraska Same-Sex Marriage Law Challenged In Federal Court -- Drew Greyfox, 22:14:30 05/01/03 Thu
• Santorum Fundraiser Links Gays To 9-11 -- Drew Greyfox, 22:16:43 05/01/03 Thu
  • Ayatollah Santorum -- Drew Greyfox, 22:44:52 05/01/03 Thu
  • Gay activist calls Santorum's comments helpful -- Drew Greyfox, 22:46:12 05/01/03 Thu
  • Santorum's Slip -- Drew Greyfox, 22:58:19 05/01/03 Thu
  • Aw - come on Drew. A link between terrorism and gay marriage!?! I know what you’re doing. You’re sneaking in satire from Whitehouse.org again and pretending it’s from a legitimate source. Right? Tell me I’m right, Drew! (NT) -- Dano, 23:34:28 05/01/03 Thu
    • Don't we wish! Thanks to Bush and the GOP its often difficult to tell which headlines are real and which are satire! You so want to believe some of the things they say/do are parodies! But sometimes you just can't make that stuff up! (NT) -- Drew Greyfox, 01:08:27 05/02/03 Fri
• Texas house approves antigay legislation -- Drew Greyfox, 22:47:31 05/01/03 Thu
• Pro-gay senator backs judicial nominee -- Drew Greyfox, 22:48:40 05/01/03 Thu
• School president resigns over gay speech -- Drew Greyfox, 22:50:12 05/01/03 Thu
• Ga. Students Plan Whites-Only Prom -- Drew Greyfox, 22:56:36 05/01/03 Thu
  • Incredible. Living in a place like this must be like being stuck in Dante’s third level of hell or something. (Uh ... not our Dante - the other one ... you know - the dead writer). (NT) -- Dano, 23:37:16 05/01/03 Thu
  • This is disgusting. The parents of these kids are a disgrace. (NT) -- Lance, 11:41:08 05/02/03 Fri
  • I'd suggest "dueling banjos" as the music for the proms (NT) -- Bester, 16:00:11 05/02/03 Fri
• ACLU Hails North Carolina Senate for Passing Death Penalty Moratorium Bill -- Drew Greyfox, 23:04:20 05/01/03 Thu
• Hawaii Legislature Becomes Nation’s First to Pass Pro-Civil Liberties Bill -- Drew Greyfox, 23:05:53 05/01/03 Thu
• Dixie Chicks Begin Tour in S.C. Concert -- Dano, 23:32:20 05/01/03 Thu
  • It's great to see that not everyone is taking the president's lead of walking the low road. The Dixie Chicks are more patriotic then any of the flag waving warmongers calling for their heads. (NT) -- Drew Greyfox, 01:05:57 05/02/03 Fri
  • Looks like we were right. The "boycott" of the Dixie Chicks was something the Bush media and wackos like the free republic WANTED to happen. I don't think there are many Dixie Chicks fans that are fundamentalists. These same people had this to say about their opening act Joan Osborne -- Lance, 11:49:42 05/02/03 Fri
  • The Dixie Chicks got standing ovations and cheers. I'm so happy for them. Here's a new article about a web site that has been against anti-war celebrities."Website Critical of Anti-War Celebrities to Be Shut Down " -- Jordana, 18:50:39 05/03/03 Sat

[ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]

Replies:

• Eddi, I'm VERY PROUD OF YOU! Congratulations!! *hugs and smooches* (NT) -- Lance, 11:51:37 05/02/03 Fri
• WOO HOOOO!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! *tons of hugs* Welcome to the world of Responsibility.. well there goes the party mood* slinks off in disgrace* (NT) -- Kris, 11:56:36 05/02/03 Fri
• Happy Graduation! Congratulations Princess! (NT) -- Pete, 16:41:36 05/02/03 Fri
• Wow - congrats, Eddi. That takes a lot of hard work and perserverence. Be proud of your accomplishment! What's your major/minor? (NT) -- Trevor/TJ, 03:08:36 05/03/03 Sat
  • Das why I aint at uni :) and CONGRATS Princess maybe now you can afford to buy ya own damn tiaras! Haha And Kris - HONEY! Im RESPONSIBLE I neva been to uni but I pay more taxes then ya eva know! Sweden has damn high taxes! :( haha (NT) -- Josie, 10:16:39 05/03/03 Sat
• ::puts on bunny ears:: congrats baby (NT) -- Rick, 04:08:07 05/03/03 Sat
• ·.,¸,·.*,¸·´*¯`·­*´"¯)`'·.*,¸·´*¯`·­(¯`*¸,¸,.·*´*(¯`'·.,(.::huggles::)·.¸**¯*).·*'´¯)¯`'*·¸*(¯`'·.*,¸·´*¯`·­)¯`'·.,¸·* (NT) -- (¯`'·.,¸(¯`'·.,¸·´¯`·­jErEmY·´¯`·­,.·'´¯)¸,.·'´¯), 12:23:53 05/03/03 Sat
• Congratulations Princess Eddi! **hugs** (NT) -- Jordana, 18:43:30 05/03/03 Sat

[ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]

Replies:

• Santorum Flees PFLAG Meeting -- Drew Greyfox, 19:26:26 05/02/03 Fri
  • he was "condescending, belligerent, argumentative and arrogant" Does that sound like a good Catholic or a "compassionate conservative" to any of you? (NT) -- Pete, 11:40:31 05/03/03 Sat
• Bush Candidate For Federal Court Compares Homosexuality To Necrophilia, Bestiality -- Drew Greyfox, 19:28:18 05/02/03 Fri
  • It appears that Bush totally not only supports these ideas, but is actively endorsing as many people as he can dredge up who will express these views loudly to everyone in the country. THIS IS WHAT 30% of the gay voters elected. A HOMOPHOBE FUNDAMENTALIST IN CHIEF WHO IS STACKING THE COURTS AND THE SENATE WITH FELLOW HOMOPHOBES AND FUNDAMENTALISTS. Congratulations gay Republicans. (NT) -- Pete, 12:05:34 05/03/03 Sat
• Global AIDS Bill Passes House With Abstinence Condition -- Drew Greyfox, 19:30:23 05/02/03 Fri
• O'Connor says gay rights a major focus -- Drew Greyfox, 00:23:36 05/03/03 Sat
• These republicans never cease to amaze me. Bill Bennett - one of the most anti-gay of the bunch of them, and author of The Book of Virtues - apparently is a bit lacking in the virtues he demands of everyone else ... -- Dano, 00:51:02 05/03/03 Sat
  • He is a loser, for sure! LOL (NT) -- Pete, 12:09:13 05/03/03 Sat

[ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]

Replies:

• Six members of Congress live in a $1.1 million Capitol Hill town house that is subsidized by a secretive religious organization, tax records show. -- Lance, 08:01:03 05/02/03 Fri
• From the LA Times - Showing Faith in Discretion. The Fellowship, which sponsors the National Prayer Breakfast, quietly effects political change. It acts with the blessing of many in power. -- Lance, 08:18:07 05/02/03 Fri
• This is some very creepy stuff. On one hand, it could just appear to be all innocent, as far as having Christian faith, but then you read about the houses and how its woven throughout our government and it seems very powerful and sinister. (NT) -- Jean, 09:16:56 05/02/03 Fri
  • I don't think it's any surprise that fundamentalist Christians want to rule the world. And right now, I would say they're pretty darn close to doing just that. (NT) -- Pete, 16:44:51 05/02/03 Fri
• They obviously have been around for quite a while and may have done good or not so good. Organisations like these only get really dangerous when they have an utterly criminal and corrupted bunch of crooks to shack up with as the Bush administration. To get rid of this administration has top priority over anything else. And separation of state and church in the USA has been largely a myth anyway, at least seen from Europe. (NT) -- Alie, 06:22:06 05/03/03 Sat

ACLU Warns Against Domestic Spying Role For CIA; Urges Congress to Reject Flawed Bush Proposal

May 2, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Media@dcaclu.org

WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today strongly urged Congress to reject a Bush Administration proposal to allow the Central Intelligence Agency and the military broad authority to spy on Americans and raised concerns about how the Administration attempted to push the proposal through a closed Senate hearing.

"Such a radical change in U.S. law must be never be debated behind closed doors," said Timothy Edgar, an ACLU Legislative Counsel. "This proposal would allow the CIA and the Pentagon to snoop through Americans’ personal records with no oversight by the courts or Congress. It is dangerous and un-American."

The proposal was secretly tucked into an intelligence authorization bill now pending in Congress. Democrats discovered the language, which would allow the CIA and the military to use what are called "national security letters" to gather sensitive personal information about Americans, and raised strong objections to the sweeping provision during a closed Senate Intelligence Committee hearing yesterday.

National security letters, currently only a tool of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, are subpoenas issued by government agents that require Internet providers, credit card companies, libraries and other organizations that maintain records to disclose highly personal information like phone records, Internet surfing histories, financial records and e-mail logs. Such subpoenas are not subject to court approval.

Reportedly, Senate Democrats were able to get the provision temporarily pulled from the authorization bill but, according to the New York Times, Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) said he would explore the issue further.

"Even during the deepest freeze of the Cold War, when fears of nuclear attack were at their peak, nobody thought to grant the CIA and the military such sweeping authority to spy on Americans," said Timothy Edgar, an ACLU Legislative Counsel.

In its 1947 charter, the CIA was prohibited from spying against Americans because, among other things, President Truman was afraid that it would engage in political abuse. During World War II, the Office of Strategic Services - the CIA’s predecessor - had become known for its skill at blackmail, extortion and the collection of information through other dubious methods. President Truman feared the implications of such behavior during peacetime on America’s basic democratic institutions. The policy against military involvement in law enforcement investigations is even more venerable. The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 forbids military involvement in civilian policing, keeping troops focused on their military mission.

"We keep the FBI in check because agents generally want to make sure that information they gather about American citizens can be introduced as evidence in a court of law," Edgar said. "Military and CIA snooping would have no such natural firewall against the abuse of power."

[This is one more attempt by the right wing to impose a gestapo-like police state on US citizens. How any American can read this and not be outraged at Bush and the GOP fascists who are so eager to shred the Constitution simply boggles my mind. I urge everyone to call, email, write, fax your represenatives and senators and DEMAND that they oppose this disgusting and disturbing attempt by the Bush administration to further infringe the rights of American citizens. Bush and every member of congress took an oath to uphold and protect the Constitution. They work for us! Demand that they fulfil their oath of office! Is this the United States, or is this Nazi Germany? It gets harder to tell the difference every day.]

[ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]

• Mitchell's (not so much lol)Survivor Decorating Commentary -- Mitchell, 12:25:17 05/01/03 Thu
  • ROTFLMCLAO!! That settles it. I'm moving down there with you Mitchell! We will live happily ever after or at least laughing our asses off! LOL! (NT) -- Sergio, 17:56:26 05/01/03 Thu
• Sorry I didn't get this edited before tonite's show, but at least I actually posted one ::looks at Sprite::: so deal with it! HAHA! Here's my Survivor Update for last week's show, typos. warts, and all. -- Lance, 21:11:28 05/01/03 Thu

[ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]

Replies:

• Sex Tips From Rick Santorum -- Sprite, 08:04:15 04/28/03 Mon
  • LMAO!!! (NT) -- Mitchell, 08:31:27 04/28/03 Mon
  • ROTF Laughin my sunburned little ass off!!!! (NT) -- Rick, 10:52:14 04/28/03 Mon
  • HAHAHAAAA! I hope he becomes a national joke and a public embarrassment to the Republican Party and the state of Pennsylvania. Maybe they will dump his homophobic ass next election.. (NT) -- Lance, 09:18:47 04/29/03 Tue
    • I doubt it, the best quote I've heard about Pennsylvania is "you've got Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and in between you've got Alabama." (NT) -- lokisdad, 15:29:42 04/30/03 Wed
      • LOLOLOLOL! (NT) -- Sprite, 07:00:03 05/01/03 Thu

[ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]

Replies:

• At least 10 dead as US soldiers fire on school protest -- Alie, 04:20:44 04/30/03 Wed
  • Wasn't it Blair who said during the anti-war protests that at least in our country we can do that without fear of retaliation, as opposed to in Iraq, where such a protest would be mercilessly crushed? (NT) -- James, 08:06:29 04/30/03 Wed
    • Well, where he's right he's right. And he's been right again this morning when US soldiers again fired into an unarmed crowd protesting against Monday's shooting with at least three more dead and 50 injured. Well, they certainly know how to make friends. (NT) -- Alie, 11:37:13 04/30/03 Wed
      • General Garner’s incredibly insensitive statements after the second incident are bound to further infuriate the Iraqi people- -- Dano, 16:59:15 04/30/03 Wed
        • We predicted all of this, and everyday the administration proves us more and more right (NT) -- Drew Greyfox, 19:05:16 04/30/03 Wed
        • Garner should look in a mirror, otherwise he will not see just how ridiculous this stick out suck in pose is. The problem is not that we predicted the chaos and the neocon mob didn't listen. The problem is that they want the chaos because then they think they can really go down on the Middle East and grab what they want. Who could stop them? (NT) -- Alie, 01:30:37 05/01/03 Thu
• Scribes and scoundrels scour the treasure chest of Iraqi intelligence -- Alie, 05:05:27 04/30/03 Wed
  • And another comment on the Telegraph's secret document finds -- Alie, 15:40:19 04/30/03 Wed
    • Exactly! This whole business of "discovering" secret documents that point blame and "prove" connections stinks of fabrication at every level. Call me cynical for not buying any of it, but anybody who does is just plain naive (NT) -- Drew Greyfox, 19:13:15 04/30/03 Wed
      • Cynical? Realistic is more to the point. I stopped believing anything said by any US official or the pro-US press until I checked it with reliable sources. I don't know of any western 'civilzed' administration who cooked up such a storm of lies ever before. (NT) -- Alie, 01:41:37 05/01/03 Thu
• Hay fever huh? My sympathies, the only thing that keeps me moving this time of the year is massive amounts of DRUGS! *sings ALL HAIL to Zyrtec and guafenisin* Although now that the allergies are under control the asthma is kicking up a fuss... just like children they are.. (NT) -- KRIS, 11:53:23 04/30/03 Wed
  • Thanks for the sympathies. My preventive med prof used to say one can't get really rid of those ailments - suppress one, make room for an other. I'm beginning to believe it. (NT) -- Alie, 01:05:52 05/01/03 Thu
• Payback time for states that left US in lurch -- Alie, 12:18:07 04/30/03 Wed
• It's good to see you back, Alie! (NT) -- Pete, 13:55:26 04/30/03 Wed
  • Thanks, Pete! (NT) -- Alie, 01:07:45 05/01/03 Thu
• A somewhat different take on Rick Santorum -- Alie, 15:52:44 04/30/03 Wed
  • ... and some cartoons -- Alie, 16:00:40 04/30/03 Wed
• Remember when the US was cool? -- Alie, 16:22:46 04/30/03 Wed

[ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]

[ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]

Replies:

• none of it works for me (NT) -- Drew Greyfox, 19:31:21 04/30/03 Wed
  • you need to have real player installed -- lokisdad, 21:48:15 04/30/03 Wed

[ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]

Replies:

• BUSH AND "INCLUSION" by Andrew Sullivan (from his web site.) -- Markus, 08:20:37 04/30/03 Wed
• REALITY CHECK: "One of your letter writers asked, 'Do any of the other three states with sodomy laws impose jail time?' In 1999, the state of Oklahoma raised the prison term for consensual sex by gay couples from 10 years to 20 years. A felony, consensual sex between two adult men or between two adult women in Oklahoma carries the same penalty as same-sex rape." Just more "inclusiveness" out there (NT) -- Markus, 08:23:42 04/30/03 Wed
• Still more from Sullivan's website. -- Markus, 08:28:59 04/30/03 Wed
• Andrew Sullivan Sunday Times Article. Hubris Ascendant The Republican Temptation -- Markus, 08:39:41 04/30/03 Wed
• A commentary about Santorum from the New Yorker. "DOG BITES MAN" -- Pete, 13:59:16 04/30/03 Wed
• From the Advocate. "Fund-raising letter adds to Santorum controversy " Spokesman for Penn. Log Cabin says, "He (Santorum) has an unhealthy obsession with this" -- Dante, 14:59:09 04/30/03 Wed

[ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]

[ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]

[ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]

Replies:

• Kip Winger! LMAO!! Aren't you a little young to be making Winger jokes, Lance? hehehe (NT) -- Drew Greyfox, 17:43:46 04/29/03 Tue
• Get well, Sergio! We'll be thinking good thoughts for ya. -- Trevor/TJ, 21:20:59 04/29/03 Tue

• Massachusetts Resurrects DOMA -- Drew Greyfox, 00:40:07 04/29/03 Tue
  • "Explain to me how in any way, my partner Jen and our two little boys, Tommy and Timmy, threaten your family" That says it all. (NT) -- Lance, 09:25:17 04/29/03 Tue
• Gay Dems Accuse GOP Of Dishonesty -- Drew Greyfox, 00:43:35 04/29/03 Tue
  • "Gay bashing is an integral part of the republican platform." I agree with you 100 percent about the current administration. If they could wave a magic wand and make every gay person on this planet disappear, THEY WOULD. THEY HATE US. PERIOD. (well not us, just the "act" because they do it wrong. hahaha) (NT) -- Lance, 08:48:16 04/29/03 Tue
• South Africa 'Ruining Families' By Recognizing Gay Couples Catholic Church Says -- Drew Greyfox, 00:44:38 04/29/03 Tue
• Santorum To Receive Honorary Degree -- Drew Greyfox, 00:45:41 04/29/03 Tue
  • I have a better idea. Instead of giving Santorum an honorary degree, why not make him pass a class in constitutional law and civics first? (NT) -- Drew Greyfox, 00:46:49 04/29/03 Tue
  • Can you believe they're honoring that homophobic bastard? "all views are welcomed even if they're not popular." What a crock of b.s. We all know that they're VERY popular with the Catholic Church and apparently to be celebrated and honored. If he had made racist statements in support of the Klan would they still allow him to speak at graduation despite student protests? Would they ever invite a nationally known public official who openly endorses gay equality to speak at commencement? (NT) -- Lance, 08:35:05 04/29/03 Tue
  • School Contact information. -- Mitchell, 09:09:15 04/29/03 Tue
• Hearing Comes on Heels of Faith-Based Defeat in Senate -- Drew Greyfox, 00:52:07 04/29/03 Tue
  • Now WHY would anyone object to this administration taking money from single parent aid and housing for the homeless, to fund physical construction of churches and other religious buildings? Praise the Lord and fuck the homeless and single parents.. (NT) -- Lance, 08:51:32 04/29/03 Tue
• In a Victory for Privacy, Florida Court Strikes Tell-All Adoption Law -- Drew Greyfox, 00:57:29 04/29/03 Tue
• ACLU Challenges Government Secrecy on “No Fly” List at San Francisco Airport -- Drew Greyfox, 01:01:01 04/29/03 Tue
  • When I flew to NYC this time, I was prepared. I wore flip flops (I LOVE 'EM!) and took off everything except my tee shirt, jeans and underwear, (I had THREE of those little plastic tubs full of stuff! haha) and I didn't have any problems for a change even though I had pale bluish hair! haha (NT) -- Lance, 09:16:16 04/29/03 Tue
• Empire vs. Republic -- Drew Greyfox, 01:29:22 04/29/03 Tue
  • Good Lord Drew! I thought Pinkie wrote by the pound, but it would take 6 months to read all this! HAHA! While it looks very interesting, I have school and a job so I'll have to pass right now. Does anyone have cliff notes or maybe we could post it as a serial with weekly installments? hahaha (NT) -- Lance, 09:10:26 04/29/03 Tue

[ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]

Replies:

• Earthday Birthday X -- Rick, 00:30:55 04/28/03 Mon
  • Oh and did i mention that the use of sunscreen this year also contributed to an awesome experience? lol (NT) -- Rick, 00:32:27 04/28/03 Mon
  • OH MY! Sounds like you had a great time over the week-end! I love big concert with lots of cute, shirtless guys! LOL (NT) -- Sprite, 08:16:36 04/28/03 Mon
• Hey Sexi! I'm glad this year was such a fun experience for you! I love outdoor all day events like that. (NT) -- Lance, 09:22:07 04/29/03 Tue

[ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]

Replies:

• awwwwwwww Feel better, babycakes. *kisses you on the forehead and tucks you in* (NT) -- Lance, 08:37:52 04/29/03 Tue

(*Editor's Note | Howard Dean, M.D. is seeking the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. He served as the Governor of Vermont from 1991 to 2002. Dean is a physician who previously shared a medical practice with his wife, Dr. Judith Steinberg. He received his B.A. from Yale University in 1971 and his medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City in 1978. He served in the Vermont House from 1982 to 1986; was elected lieutenant governor in 1986, and became governor in 1991. His campaign website is www.DeanForAmerica.com. - wrp)

Equal Rights is the Responsibility of Every American
By Governor Howard Dean
t r u t h o u t | Exclusive Editorial

Sunday 27 April 2003

George W. Bush ran for President on the promise that he would be ``a uniter, not a divider.'' Nothing could be further from the truth. Earlier this week, Senator Rick Santorum, the third highest ranking Republican in the Senate, compared homosexuality to bigamy, polygamy, incest and adultery. On Friday, President Bush praised Santorum as ``an inclusive man.'' With his praise, this President has once again demonstrated his willingness to follow the extremist Republican tradition of dividing our country for political gain. The President knows that his defense of Santorum's inflammatory words deeply offends millions of gay and lesbian Americans, their family and friends; his praise also raises grave concerns about this Administration's commitment to civil rights and civil liberties.

Senator Santorum has called his repugnant remarks ``a legitimate public policy discussion.'' Senator Santorum is wrong. Equating the private, consensual activities of adults to the molestation of minors is not a policy discussion. It is gay-bashing, and it is immoral.

Senator Santorum asserted that the government has the right ``to limit individuals' wants and passions.'' While the government has the right to protect citizens from the harmful acts of others, as well as an obligation to promote the general welfare of all people, I do not believe that it is the proper role of government to step into the private bedrooms of consenting adults. The continuous assault by right-wing radicals on the privacy of ordinary Americans must stop.

Senator Santorum must step down from his leadership post. His failure to recognize that it is wrong to attack people because of which group they belong to makes him unfit to hold a leadership position in the United States Senate.

The issue at hand is about more than Senator Santorum's reprehensible statements, however, and the issue is also about more than the dignity and respect of gay and lesbian Americans.

The issue is whether we, as Americans, will continue to allow ourselves to be led down a path by this Administration to a country that is divided against itself by race, income, gender, sexual orientation and religion.

Senator Santorum's remarks do not exist in isolation. In January, President Bush went on national television to discuss the Supreme Court's hearing of the University of Michigan's affirmative action case. One of the most despicable moments of this President's Administration occurred when, on national prime time television, he used the word "quotas" repeatedly to describe the University of Michigan's admissions policy.

President Bush knows that the University of Michigan does not now have, and has never had, quotas. His use of the race-loaded word "quota" is intended to incite people's fears of losing their jobs, or their positions in America's leading universities, to minorities. Such rhetoric, which is designed to appease the extreme right-wing of the Republican Party and to appeal to Americans' worst instincts, betrays the guiding principle that America is a nation in which all people are created equal.

Achieving this equality requires moral leadership. It sometimes requires standing against your party's base. It is not moral leadership when the third highest ranking Republican in the Senate intimates that the sexual abuse of minors is no different than the consensual acts of adults, and the President's spokesperson responds by praising that man for ``doing a good job as Senator.''

Three years ago, I signed into law the civil unions bill, a law that guarantees same-sex couples in Vermont the same legal rights as married couples. The Vermont Supreme Court in December of 1999 held that gay and lesbian people were not being provided with equal rights in our state. An hour and a half after that court issued its decision, I told the press and the people of Vermont that I would support a bill making our state the first in the country to provide all Americans with equality under the law. At the time, approximately 35% of the people favored the bill, and 60% were opposed.

I signed the civil unions bill because it was the right thing to do. Those of us who came of age during the civil rights movement have long understood that the strength of America lies in our commitment to equal rights under the law for everyone. Civil unions provide equal inheritance rights, equal hospital visitation rights, and equal insurance rights. Every legal right that I have as a married person, anybody in Vermont can have, including gays and lesbians. Today, Vermont is the only place in America where equal rights under the law means equal rights under the law for every citizen, not just for the people we like or the people we're comfortable with or the people who look like us.

President Bush's and Senator Santorum's remarks remind us that while laws may guarantee equal rights, laws alone do not create equality. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 guarantees equal rights for minorities in this country, but the law did not end racism and prejudice. The civil unions law guarantees equal rights for same-sex couples in Vermont, but the law did not end discrimination toward gays and lesbians.

Creating equality for all requires the personal responsibility of everyone. As Americans, we can no longer tolerate politics of division and still hope to achieve the promise of equality envisioned by our Founding Fathers. The dream of equal rights for all Americans will only be realized when all of us-whether in the corridors of power or in the hallways of our schools and offices-come together to create a community in which bigotry and hatred is cast out from the forum of public discourse. I believe equal rights can be achieved, but it will only be achieved when we have leaders in the highest offices of the land who stop pandering to bigots in exchange for a handful of votes.

[ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]

[ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]

Replies:

• To tell you the truth the latest JJ and I were on the beach was at sunset and just right after while there were still a lot of people around. If we went out at night -- Lance, 16:30:17 04/24/03 Thu
• Venice 6am to 10pm there are a few with camping facilities in LA County I think - take the word of native U DON'T WANT TO BE A SLUT ON THE BEACH - there is nothing that attracks sand more then lubricant - talk about being raw the next day - butt if u must learn the HARD way I'd recommend a strong topical anesthetic (benzocaine 20% or better) for the day after!! (NT) -- <:)yea I learned the hard way, 00:10:12 04/28/03 Mon

Thanks for keeping an invalid company tonight and making me laugh. You're the best.

[ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]

Replies:

• AWWWWWWW! You’re the sweetest!!!!! But thank you!!! I’ve missed you soooo much! (NT) -- Mitchell, 00:28:45 04/27/03 Sun
  • Why??? what's up????? Anyway I don't know???? we have some cathing up to do! *grap Sergio and,,,,* well it's our business! Mine and Lance's. hahaha *smooch* (NT) -- Josie, 08:56:25 04/27/03 Sun
• I can see my first reply but its not posted ( oh well?) But anyway! as I said me and Serge has some catching up to do! I have to prove that Mitch ain't da best! hahaha (NT) -- Josie, 09:00:05 04/27/03 Sun
  • You see who he’s giving flowers to don’t you????? (NT) -- Mitchell, 11:42:51 04/27/03 Sun
• Poor Mitchell. Must have been a tough job keeping Sergio company last night! LOL (NT) -- Dante, 10:47:22 04/27/03 Sun
  • Yeah. It’s a tough job, but If anybody going to do, it’s going to be ME!!!! (NT) -- Mitchell, 11:48:45 04/27/03 Sun
    • Well he has to give ya SOMETHING!? Hahaha He gives ya a rose and he gives me an org *ahem* finish with an M! hahaha (NT) -- Josie, 13:02:41 04/27/03 Sun
      • Oh honey, I think you mean YOU give yourself the big O while thinking about our Serge or looking at his pic. Well in that sense of the word, he's done for all of us I imagine!! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!! (NT) -- Spritey, 15:32:05 04/27/03 Sun

[ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]

Replies:

• Some links inside -- Alie, 14:32:08 04/27/03 Sun
• How can somebody like Santorum become a senator in the US? The same way somebody like Bush can become president. Mostly because FAR too many Americans have such a superficial appreciation of freedom or see their personal religious beliefs and bigotries as more important then the freedom of others. To them freedom is great, as long as you're doing something *they* like. (NT) -- Drew Greyfox, 15:16:41 04/27/03 Sun

[ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]

Replies:

• Where are you, Alie?? Here's another doctored photo similar to some that you posted...On 9 April 2003, the front page of the London Evening Standard (circulation: 400,000) front page contained a blurry image supposedly showing a throng of Iraqis in Baghdad celebrating the toppling of Saddam Hussein. What we are really looking at is an incredibly ham-fisted attempt at photo manipulation. -- Pete, 15:02:04 04/22/03 Tue
  • I agree. Where is Alie? (more) -- Dante, 07:03:09 04/23/03 Wed
    • PAGING ALIE! WHERE ARE YOOOOOOOOOOU? COME BACK. WE MISS YOU. (NT) -- Lance, 15:17:38 04/24/03 Thu
    • Thank you for your kind apology Dante, but you did not do anything -- Alie, 14:50:00 04/27/03 Sun
  • Just want to say that I too have always appreciated Alie’s posts and everything she added to this board! (NT) -- Dano, 12:22:03 04/23/03 Wed
    • Lol, that almost sounds like an obituary! I only wasn't very well and needed some time out. But thanks for your appreciation Dano! (NT) -- Alie, 14:55:26 04/27/03 Sun
• "What happened here was the gradual habituation of the people, little by little, to being governed by surprise; to receiving decisions deliberated in secret; to believing that the situation was so complicated that the government had to act on information which the people could not understand, or so dangerous that, even if the people could understand it, it could not be released because of national security. ... -- Pete, 15:20:58 04/22/03 Tue
  • Here's an editorial I came across about Fox's News coverage. -- Dante, 07:20:55 04/23/03 Wed
    • I have yet to see anything but tiny clips in the mainstream media about the huge protests in Iraq against an American occupation, nor the complete lack of chemical weapons. Occasionally you hear "possible weapons found" and then it's ignored. At most you'll hear a quick correction that it was a false alarm... -- Drew Greyfox, 09:06:59 04/23/03 Wed
• Diane Sawyer to Interview Dixie Chicks on "Primetime," on ABC Friday night. -- Dante, 07:12:24 04/23/03 Wed
  • I guess this interview was taped within the last couple of days. Here’s part of it that has just been released. -- Dano, 15:43:43 04/23/03 Wed
    • BTW - Dante's article says it will air Friday night. Mine (from the Drudge Report) says it will air Thursday night. I don't know which is correct. (NT) -- Dano, 15:49:47 04/23/03 Wed
  • Dixie Chicks will be on Primetime tonight - Thursday according to everything I've seen. also - The country stars appear nude on the cover of next week's "Entertainment Weekly," with contradicting slogans painted on their skin: Saddam's Angels, Dixie Sluts, Patriot, Proud Americans. That ought to have the Bush fundies screaming for the Dixie Chicks' blood! Here's the whole article. -- Paul, 12:26:08 04/24/03 Thu
    • God I love the Dixie Chicks! Their songs have always gone against the stereotypical fundie, misogynist redneck country music fan. Sin Wagon is a take-off of the old gosple song "I'll Fly Away" and "Earl" had an abused wife and her best friend murdering the abusive husband, laughing about it, and even having a picnic when they disposed of his body. HAHAHA! I hope they write a song about this too, but naked with tattoos on a magazine cover is good! In your face! Ya gotta love 'em! (NT) -- Lance, 14:47:03 04/24/03 Thu