"A Democratic polling memo released yesterday found that women, who voted for President Bush last year in large numbers, have begun migrating back to their traditional home in the Democratic Party as the public’s agenda has shifted from homeland security and terrorism to domestic concerns such as jobs and the economy," the Washington Post reports.
Long List of Tony Nominees
This looks like a really good year for the Tonys and Broadway in general. Some heavy-hitters and great shows. I’m especially happy for Hank Azaria, who I declined to cast as the lead when I directed "Chicago" in college. I guess he showed me! Best Play DemocracyAuthor: Michael FraynProducers: Boyett Ostar Productions, Nederlander Presentations, Inc., Jean Doumanian, Stephanie P. McClelland, … Read More
More Jesus Sightings
Thawing sludge appears in a Chicago underpass, and everybody flocked to see it because it was the Virgin Mary. And now, Jesus shows up in a woman’s womb. Well, the ultrasound of it. Actually, it looks like a full grown woman to me, but what do I know? Now, I know that God moves in strange and mysterious ways, but … Read More
In My Neck Of The Woods
WAYNESVILLE, N.C. — A pastor of a small Baptist church led an effort to kick out church members because they didn’t support President Bush, members said. The nine members were voted out at a Monday meeting of the East Waynesville Baptist Church in this mountain town about 120 miles west of Charlotte. WLOS-TV in Asheville reported that 40 other members … Read More
Update On The Kansas Evolution Hearings
As most people know, the Kansas State Board of Education is having hearings to determine if evolution should be taught and/or if the "Intelligent Design" theory (which, by the way, isn’t science) should be taught. Everyone knows it is a bit of a sham, as the outcome as already been predetermined. What’s striking about it, however, is that those who … Read More
Give Me a C!
I’m 42, so writing about cheerleaders at my age has kind of an ookey feeling about it. But the door has been thrown open, as cheerleading as become the ookey topic du jour. For example, the State of Texas recently tackled that life-or-death problem of cheerleader booty-shaking. Rest easy, America — Texas is on the case. Call me crazy, but … Read More
Question Time
Sharon Hughes, a conservative columnist at Alan Keye’s Renew America site, asks some pretty dumb questions: Could it just be possible that teaching evolution as fact, that students come from animals and without purpose, be responsible in any way for the increase of crime and other social problems, such as rape, that we’re seeing amongst our youth today? No. For … Read More
Fourth Circuit to Establishment Clause: “Fuck You!”
Like in public meetings around the country, the Chesterfield County (Va.) Board of Supervisors begins its meetings with a religious invocation offered by local clergymen of various denominations. As you might expect, the invocation itself is non-denominational, but alway always always invokes a monotheistic supreme being. Cynthia Simpson, a member of a non-Judeo-Christian pantheistic religion — a religion with hundreds … Read More
Schism on the Right Widens
It’s nice to see people like Glenn Reynolds,George Will, Christopher Hitchens, Eugene Volokh, and even self-proclaimed “born-again Christians" speak out today and take principled stands against the excesses of social conservatism as thrust upon us by the holier-than-thou religious right. I like Hitchen’s quote best: The need of the hour is for some senior members of the party of Lincoln … Read More
School Band Not Permitted To Play “Louie Louie”
I am playing a role in a local production of "Footloose", a stage musical based on the 1980’s Kevin Bacon movie in which a teenager tries to "cut loose" with dance fever in an uptight small town—a town which has banned dancing as obscene. It’s a silly movie, and a silly musical, because no place in America could be that … Read More
Joint Chiefs Call Out Bush’s Lie
Bush at the April 28 press conference: Q: …Do you feel, as you are confronting these problems, the number of troops you’ve left tied up in Iraq is limiting your options to go beyond the diplomatic solutions that you described for North Korea and Iran? THE PRESIDENT: No, I appreciate that question. The person to ask that to, the person … Read More
Kansas To Debate Whether Adam Had A Navel
Amanda Marcotte notes: Also on the agenda for the Kansas Board of Education–whether or not unicorns simply forgot to board the Ark and if "the curse" is women’s punishment for being daughters of Eve. It’s science! Well, it’s better science than Intelligent Design theory. It’s time to face up to it–these religious nuts are not about to give up thinking … Read More
How’s Democracy In The Middle East?
Women of Kuwait denied vote by Islamist lawmakers A plan to allow Kuwaiti women to participate in local elections was postponed indefinitely yesterday when Islamist and conservative legislators abstained from a vote. Source This is Kuwait we’re talking about, folks.
More Historical Revisionism From The Right
NOW: “I don’t think the rationale for the war hinged on the existence of stockpiles.” – Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith, The New Yorker, 5/9/05 THEN: “I’d like to spend a moment, if I can, stressing in particular the crucial task of eliminating weapons of mass destruction. We have begun detailed planning for this task, which includes securing, assessing and … Read More
The Solomon Amendment
The Supreme Court is going to review a lower court decision invalidating the Solomon Amendment. The amendment denies federal funds to schools that do not allow military recruiters on campus. Justices will review a lower court ruling in favor of 25 law schools that restricted recruiters in protest of the Pentagon’s policy of excluding openly gay people from military service. … Read More