Let's Talk About: MN-Sen

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Saturday May 13, 2006 · 5:09 PM PDT

2006/05/13 · 17:09

I started this series last month. I wanted to make this diary on the Minnesota Senate race because for such a high-profile race, I haven't heard a lot of talk about this one. I haven't had the time to be around here as much as I once was, so if I've missed diaries on this, I'm sorry.
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Do you watch American Idol?

JamesB3

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Monday April 24, 2006 · 7:58 PM PDT

2006/04/24 · 19:58

Last week, someone asked me why I put the voting phone number for Elliott Yamin in the open thread on Tuesday nights.

I thought I'd write a quick diary on the subject, and ask if any of you watched American Idol. I will admit the show is not anywhere near as important as political matters, as social justice, as the environment - that's one of the reasons I watch the show. I have a lot going on, as I'm sure everyone does, and the show is a distraction. It's not as good as it was in some previous seasons, and Simon Cowell is an ass who claims to know everything but usually only relies on vote totals. Read More

Let's Talk About: WA-SEN

JamesB3

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Sunday April 23, 2006 · 7:26 PM PDT

2006/04/23 · 19:26

I thought I would start a new series where I give a brief rundown on an election battle raging this year, and you, who probably know far more about the situation than I do, give your feelings, doubts, hopes, fears, predictions, etc.

The first will be the upcoming Senate election in Washington State. Incumbent Democratic junior senator Maria Cantwell is running for a second term. Cantwell has a strong record on issues such as choice and the environment, but is very controversial with progressives due to her vote in favor of the Iraq War Resolution, among other issues. Her opponent is so-called moderate Mike McGavick, a big-time businessman running for his first political office. Dino Rossi Gone Corporate, I suppose. She also has a Green opponent, Aaron Dixon.

JamesB3

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Tuesday February 21, 2006 · 3:22 PM PST

2006/02/21 · 15:22

I thought I would list a quick roundup of anti-gay legislation which has passed or may pass in various states. Some of this is from the legislature, others might be from a citizen petition process. In the spirit of giving the bad news first, at the bottom I will list the states whose legislature or initative process defeated anti-gay legislation this year. I will also list some of the state gay organizations you can go to if you want to help out, whether through money, or volunteering, whatever you wish. If I have missed any potential laws in any states, please let me know. There are efforts to ban gay adoption and/or foster care in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Indiana, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, but aside from Ohio and possibly Missouri, most of those bans have achieved prominence this year (next year or 2008 may be a very different story). Read More

FL: Anti-gay GOP hoisted on their own petard

JamesB3

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Wednesday February 01, 2006 · 6:06 PM PST

2006/02/01 · 18:06

That's a nice way of saying they got it up the ass.

Anti-family groups in Florida (not content with the state's longstanding ban on gay adoption) have been desperate to get an amendment on the ballot that would ban most legal benefits for gay groups. Knowing that their own election slate includes such proven stamp-out...er...get-out-the-vote candidates as Katherine Harris, the Florida Republican Party bankrolled most of the effort for this hate ploy.

Well, it looks like they FAILED. Read More

Another special election victory (in New Hampshire)!

JamesB3

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Tuesday January 24, 2006 · 9:15 PM PST

2006/01/24 · 21:15

In the special election to replace retiring Republican representative Phil Smith, Democrat John Robinson won. He won both Londonderry and Auburn, even though the area went to Bush by double digits in 2004. Robinson was a self-described moderate, his opponent a right-winger on the issues.

Of course this is only one seat, possibly retaken by Republicans in the general election, but in so many special elections over the past year we have seen sensible candidates (in Missouri, in Minnesota, Virginia, now New Hampshire). Over and over voters have had a choice between basic human decency and scare campaigns, and they have flushed the latter down the choice.

Let's hope this is a harbinger for the upcoming midterms. Whether it is or not, congratulations to John Robinson, and may he help the sane members of both parties accomplish good things in New Hampshire.

UN: Iran/US/etc. vs. gays

JamesB3

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Tuesday January 24, 2006 · 11:37 AM PST

2006/01/24 · 11:37

Conservatives have told gays that even if life in America is not ideal, things could be much worse. And that's true. Just look at what happened in Iran last year (Warning: graphic photos). Young men given the death penalty because of homosexuality. I have often heard that "left" groups do not care about the lives of gays in Iran, although I don't remember if the Secretary of State ever commented on that matter either.

If so many on the right are concerned about "Axis of Evil" Iran, then can they please explain this recent UN vote? Read More

NH special election TOMORROW - any details??

JamesB3

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Monday January 23, 2006 · 1:20 PM PST

2006/01/23 · 13:20

Rep. Phil Smith (is he a Democrat or a Republican?) resigned his seat in the NH state legislature. Voters in the Londonderry and Auburn area are going to the polls tomorrow to select his replacement. The Democrat is moderate John Robinson. The Republican is Alfred Baldasaro, who is right-wing. This area went for Bush by around 13-14% in 2004.

Do any of you know anything about the candidates? Can you give us some comments on who you think might win? Special elections are critical. Every seat counts.

Desperate Housewives gay action: Where's the outrage?

JamesB3

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Monday January 09, 2006 · 8:12 PM PST

2006/01/09 · 20:12

As we know, anti-gay group American Family Association led a high-pressure campaign against NBC's new drama "Book of Daniel". When I watched the show, I will admit that I was baffled by all the hoopla - if anything, the show presented gay stereotypes that should please the AFA.

My mother enjoys "Desperate Housewives". I watch the show sometimes. I happened to see last night's episode.

And what did I see? Read More

NBC affiliate drops "Book of Daniel"

JamesB3

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Wednesday January 04, 2006 · 7:07 PM PST

2006/01/04 · 19:07

NBC's new family/religious drama "Book of Daniel" has been controversial from the start. American Family Association has tried their best to pull the series, , which in their mind "mocks Christianity", has an openly gay character (a Republican), and is run by a "practicing" homosexual (does practice make perfect?).

A lot of people like to laugh these groups off, in spite of the near-successful harrassment of Ford and other companies. But once again we see the peril in taking these groups lightly. Read More

MN special election: Democrats win!

JamesB3

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Tuesday December 27, 2005 · 10:06 PM PST

2005/12/27 · 22:06

As diaried on yesterday, Minnesota had special elections for a house and senate seat. The house seat was safe for the DFL candidate, but the senate seat was a swing district. In spite of the governor putting the election on the day many college kids would be out of state for the holidays, DFLer Tarryl Clark won with 55% of the vote. Not too shabby. The Independence candidate took 7%, the Republican, a talk radio host, got 38%. Read More

Special election in Minnesota TODAY!

JamesB3

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Tuesday December 27, 2005 · 10:01 AM PST

2005/12/27 · 10:01

2 seats in Minnesota's state legislature are being contested tonight. The senate seat is in play, thanks to a strong DFL candidate, Tarryl Clark. The house seat is considered a safe DFL/Democrat seat, and the GOP candidate was thrown off the ballot due to a residency issue (her mother is a write-in candidate now). Extremist right-wing governor Tim Pawlenty picked GOP senator Keis for a state job, and set the special election for December 27, a time when a lot of college kids won't be around to help offset the conservative pull of the area (St. Cloud). Although the district is generally Republican, a strong candidate can swing the vote, as happened last month when Terri Bonoff won a senate seat that had been in GOP hands for over a decade. Read More

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